Page 14 - aruba-today-20240826

A14 people & Arts
Monday 26 august 2024
American rapper Macklemore says he canceled Dubai show over

UAE arming Sudan paramilitary forces

DUBAI, United Arab Emir- I do ask the question to my
ates (AP) — American rap- peers scheduled to play in
per Macklemore said he Dubai: If we used our plat-
canceled an upcoming forms to mobilize collective
October concert in Dubai liberation, what could we
over the United Arab Emir- accomplish?”
ates’ role “in the ongoing The RSF formed out of the
genocide and humanitar- Janjaweed fighters under
ian crisis” in Sudan through then-Sudanese President
its reported support of the Omar al-Bashir, who ruled
paramilitary force that’s the country for three de-
been fighting government cades before being over-
troops there. thrown during a popular up-
The announcement by rising in 2019. He is wanted
Macklemore reignited at- by the International Crimi-
tention to the UAE’s role in nal Court on charges of
the war gripping the Afri- genocide and other crimes
can nation. While the UAE during the conflict in Darfur
repeatedly has denied in the 2000s.
arming the Rapid Support Dubai, home to the long-
Forces and supporting its haul carrier Emirates, the
leader Mohammed Ham- world’s tallest building the
dan Dagalo, United Nations Burj Khalifa and other tourist
experts reported “credible” destinations, long has tried
evidence in January that FILE - Macklemore performs at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater during the South by to draw A-list performers in
the Emirates sent weapons Southwest Music Festival on Friday, March 17, 2023, in Austin, Texas. American rapper Macklemore the city-state at a brand-
to the RSF several times a said Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, he canceled an upcoming October concert in Dubai over the United new arena and other ven-
week from northern Chad. Arab Emirates’ “role ... in the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis” stemming from the war ues. However, performers
Sudan plunged into chaos gripping Sudan through its reported support of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces there. in the past have acknowl-
in mid-April 2023, when (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File) edged the difficulties in
long-simmering tensions be- told his counterpart to stop tagram, Grammy winner in honor of a young girl performing in the UAE, a he-
tween its military and para- “grandstanding.” The UAE Macklemore said he had named Hind Rajab killed in reditarily ruled federation of
military leaders broke out in has been a part in ongo- a series of people “asking Gaza in a shooting Palestin- seven sheikhdoms in which
the capital, Khartoum, and ing peace talks to end the me to cancel the show in ians have blamed on Israeli speech is tightly controlled.
spread to other regions in- fighting. solidarity with the people of forces opening fire on a ci- That includes American co-
cluding Darfur. Estimates The Emirati Foreign Minis- Sudan and to boycott do- vilian car. median Dave Chappelle,
suggest over 18,800 peo- try offered no immediate ing business in the UAE for “I know that this will prob- who drew attention in May
ple have been killed in the comment on Macklemore’s the role they are playing in ably jeopardize my future in Abu Dhabi when he re-
fighting, while over 10 mil- public statement Sunday, the ongoing genocide and shows in the area, and I truly ferred to the Israel-Hamas
lion have fled their homes. nor did the city-state’s humanitarian crisis.” hate letting any of my fans war as a “genocide” while
Hundreds of thousands are Dubai Media Office. Orga- Macklemore said he recon- down,” he wrote. “I was re- also joking about the UAE’s
on the brink of famine. nizers last week announced sidered the show in part over ally excited too. But until the vast surveillance apparatus.
At a contentious U.N. Secu- the show had been can- his recent, public support of UAE stops arming and fund- Macklemore, a 41-year-old
rity Council meeting in June, celed and refunds would Palestinians amid the ongo- ing the RSF I will not perform rapper born Benjamin Ham-
Sudan’s embattled govern- be issued, without offering ing Israel-Hamas war raging there.” mond Haggerty in Kent,
ment directly accused the an explanation for the can- in the Gaza Strip. He recent- He added: “I have no judg- Washington, won Grammy
UAE of arming the RSF, and cellation. ly has begun performing a ment against other artists awards in 2014 for his break-
an Emirati diplomat angrily In a post Saturday on Ins- song called “Hind’s Hall,” performing in the UAE. But out song, “Thrift Shop.”q

Justin and Hailey Bieber welcome a baby boy, Jack Blues

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Justin were available. have each shared pho-
Bieber, who rose to inter- The couple announced tos together and of Hailey
national stardom in 2010 they were expecting a Bieber that displayed the
with his hit “Baby,” has wel- baby in May via Instagram model’s baby bump, in-
comed one of his own with posts on their respective cluding a campaign for the
his wife, Hailey Bieber (nee pages from an intimate vow Rhode skincare line.
Baldwin). renewal ceremony. The vid- The Biebers married in No-
The singer, 30, posted a eos and photos show the vember 2018, which they
photo of a baby’s foot Fri- model, who also founded also announced through
day on Instagram, revealing the skincare brand Rhode, an Instagram post.
the child’s name as Jack wearing a form-fitting white The singer posted a photo
Blues Bieber. The model, 27, dress that showed off her of the duo with the cap-
reshared the post on Insta- baby bump. tion, “My wife is awesome,”
gram Stories. The AP confirmed Bieber and his wife followed up
It’s not clear when the baby was just over six months by changing her Insta-
FILE - Justin Bieber, left, and Hailey Bieber attend The Metropolitan was born; a representative pregnant at the time of the gram username to “Hailey
Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala on Sept. 13, 2021, for Hailey Bieber told The announcement. Bieber.” The couple dated
in New York. Associated Press on Friday Since the pregnancy an- for about a month before
(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) night that no further details nouncement, the couple tying the knot.q