Human Rights Watch is not
exactly singing Jennifer Lopez's praises these days.
Some members of the media and
human rights groups have scrutinized the singer after reports that she
performed "Happy Birthday" to Turkmenistan dictator Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedovon June 29. The most vocally opposed organization has been HRF,
which estimates that J.Lo has received in excess of $10 million for what it
calls, "serenading crooks and dictators from Eastern Europe and
Russia."
"What those covering this
story have missed is that J. Lo and her management have misled her fans and the
public," said HRF President Thor Halvorssen. "J. Lo has repeatedly
mingled with and entertained some of the world's worst thugs and their
cronies."
"The
'Jenny-from-the-block-who-doesn't-Google' clarification may be credible in one
instance, but it beggars belief in light of a pattern of repeated behavior,
Halvorssen continued. "This is not about ignorance, it's about
greed."
The non-profit organization
also chronicled Lopez's recent highly-paid appearances in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan,
Belarus and Russia.
HRF has previously gone after
actress Hilary Swank over her 2011 visit to Chechnya, as well as singerJulio
Iglesias after he performed in Equatorial Guinea.
Jennifer Lopez apologized
Sunday after a barrage of criticism followed her singing “Happy Birthday” to
the leader of Turkmenistan, a country described by human rights groups as
“among the most repressive in the world.”
The singer and actress
performed in the former Soviet bloc country on Saturday night. A statement
released Sunday by her publicist to the Associated Press said the event was
hosted by the China National Petroleum Corp. and wasn’t a political event.
However, the country's leader,
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, attended. Berdimuhamedow has been criticized for his
oppressive rule by Human Rights Watch and similar organizations.
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