Erykah Badu has always been a bit of a strange bird and has never backed away from controversy.
The singer, who once walked naked down the streets of Dallas, Texas has apparently rubbed religious groups in Kuala Lampour the wrong way after being photographed with religious symbols covering her body.
The Star published the photograph of Badu with two tattoos with the Arabic word for ‘Allah’, or God, in their Star2 entertainment section earlier this week and afterwards, Malay groups opposed allowing the R&B singer to perform in thier country.
Several Muslim groups in Malaysia consider the word ‘Allah’ sacred and have protested the use of the word by non-Muslims in the past. Tattooing is similarly taboo.
Erykah’s racy photo even bought the managing editor of the mag a phone call from Malaysia’s Home Ministry, who also called the chief news editor and senior editor of the Star asking them all to explain why they published the picture.
The Star eventually published an apology, stating:
A photograph of American singer Erykah Badu with tattoos of various symbols, including the Arabic word for Allah, was inadvertently published in Star2 today.
We sincerely apologise to Muslim readers for this oversight.
Badu’s concert was originally scheduled for tonight (February 28, 2012), but the outcry over her “tattoo controversy” has caused her performance to be banned!
Badu is reportedly already in Kuala Lumpur and has been spotted in a major shopping center in the city.
According to MSN, Erykah’s Malaysian trip may just be an expensive shopping excursion after the Minister of Information, Datuk Seri Utama Rais Yatim announced today that her scheduled performance has been officially cancelled.
Rais even posted a tweet on his account (writtin in Malay) and reported that Badu’s concert was canceled for ‘touching on religious sensitivities’ and failing to meet ‘Malaysian cultural values’ as well as guidelines set by PUSPAL, the central agency for application for filming and performance by foreign artistes.
One thing’s for sure about Ms. Badu, she certainly keeps her name in the news.
What do you think of Erykah’s latest controversial issue?
FULL PHOTO GALLERY
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The world us too sensitive…so what…
that’s y i respect Erykah’s freedom of expression. mos def a misunderstood #pisces! they missed out on a good show.
[...] Erykah Badu concert banned for insensitive religious tattoo – Straight from the A [...]
She better wait until she’s on US soil to practice free speech and etc. They don’t play that in other parts of the world mess around be called Eryka the beheaded from now on. The the third pic she look like Verdin White from earth wind and fire.
She’s lovely in all of her different looks. They definitely missed a good show.
She needs more people…someone in her camp should have known her photograph could’ve been perceived as offensive and made a change of all her publicity items distributed in Malaysia and other Muslim countries. If you’re going to be global, then act and think globally.
Those tats aren’t even real. Who knew that in Malaysia you would actually have to be muslim in order to utter the word Allah. Shame on them for banning her. I think it is because he is a woman and an American woman at that. Too many muslims in the world hate women and hate Americans. Islam is wicked and you know this.
The photograph is old though. Better late than never right?
respect their rules just as you would on your own turf…
and islam isnt a wicked religion..we all have rules to live by…respect it or go home…
While it may not be a big deal to us, and I don’t necessarily agree with their decision…I do think you have to respect other countries customs and religious beliefs. You can’t go to another country (besides ours) just doing wtf you want. The banning was for her own safety. Her intent was definitely not to be disrespectful though.
Not just that, the irony is it is a muslim company that was trying to bring Erykah to Malaysia.
What is worse now is it has became a racial issue, they claim The Star (majority of the staff are chinese) purposely publish the photos. The Malaysian government (majority muslim) is not satisfied with 2 public apologies by The Star and wanted to suspend their operations as well as sacking the 2 suspended chinese editors.
In the streets you can hear anti chinese sentiments regarding this. Malaysia is a country where the majority (muslims) loves to oppress the minority races but officially claims racial harmony.
Nice work Erykah! Next time think of having a concert in Middle East, we might suddenly has peace!
SHE A FREEMASON FOR THOSE WHO KNOW THE SIGN SHE MAKE!!!
[...] Malaysia Bans Erykah Badu Concert Over Religious Tattoos. Straight from the A. [↩] [...]