Justin Bieber Performs In Saudi Arabia Despite Facing Backlash From Protestors

Weeks before the show, billboards began appearing begging the Canadian to reconsider.

BYHayley Hynes
Justin Bieber Performs In Saudi Arabia Despite Facing Backlash From Protestors

Justin Bieber is in the hot seat following a recent performance in Saudi Arabia. The “Love Yourself” singer took to the stage at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday to sing a few of his hits for audiences at the F1 Grand Prix, despite cries of outrage coming from upset fans.

As reported by TMZ, last month, eye-catching ads began appearing on trucks in Downtown Los Angeles, petitioning for the Canadian to reconsider his decision to perform in SA. “Bieber, Your Saudi Boss Murders Journalists. Do the right Thing, Cancel,” one of them reads. “Why is Bieber singing for a Saudi dictator who executes gay men?” another asks.


The country’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is seen as a threat by many human rights advocates, and they see the 27-year-old agreeing to perform for him as complacency with his problematic and harmful behaviour. “If you refuse to be a pawn of MBS, your message will be loud and clear: I do not perform for dictators. I choose justice and freedom over money,” Hatice Cengiz, the widowed fiancée of murdered Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi wrote to the star.

Cengiz’s plea, and the countless others, seemingly weren’t heard by Bieber, as he performed alongside a roster of names like David Guetta, Tiesto, and A$AP Rocky. Superstar athlete Lewis Hamilton won the race, and it’s been reported that the Ontario-born vocalist sung “Deserve You,” “Somebody,” and “Hold On,” among other titles. 


His wife, Hailey Bieber, was also at the event, wearing a mask and a hat, laying low while taking in the show. Check out some clips below.




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About The Author
Hayley Hynes is the Weekend Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop, and has been since 2021. She began writing for the website that same year, primarily covering content in the Music, Pop Culture, and Streetwear niches after graduating from Vancouver’s Blanche Macdonald Centre with a Fashion Marketing Diploma. She previously reported on Travel, Entertainment, Beauty, and News at Narcity Canada for over three years. Hayley has also contributed articles and interviews within these realms to Folklr Magazine and the Calgary Journal while studying Journalism at Mount Royal University. In her spare time, she freelances for Bandbox Vinyl, having already interviewed hip-hop icons like Atmosphere and explored Syd’s discography. Hayley also uses her expansive pop culture knowledge and passion for astrology/self-enhancement to help others explore their curiosity in an ongoing Instagram video series. Among her favourite hip-hop artists are A$AP Rocky, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, and Mac Miller.