Maluma storms out of live World Cup interview after being asked if he’s ‘whitewashing’ Qatar’s human rights abuses through his participation-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

Maluma, the Columbian singer who is one of the artists behind the official World Cup anthem, has walked out of a live TV interview after he was questioned over his participation in relation to human rights abuses in Qatar.

The 28-year-old musician was asked on Sunday if his presence at the tournament was helping to ‘whitewash’ the country’s history of human rights violations.

This prompted Maluma – real name Juan Luis Londoño Arias – to brand his interviewee ‘rude’ and leave the set.

Reporter Moav Verdi brought up singers Shakira and Dua Lipa during a BBC broadcast on Israeli public television channel Kan, who both refused to take part in the World Cup due to the country’s human rights record.

He then asked Maluma if he had ‘a problem with human rights violations in this country’, to which the star responded: ‘Yeah, but it’s something I can’t resolve, I just came here to enjoy life, enjoy the party of soccer. It’s not something that I have to be involved with.’

‘I am here enjoying my music and the beautiful life playing soccer too,’ he added.

Maluma was grilled on the topic ahead of the World Cup opening ceremony (Picture: Reuters/Kan News Israel)

When Verdi pressed his point further, asking if he could understand that people would say that by is very presence he was ‘helping whitewash’ the abuses, Maluma asked the team behind the camera if he had to answer.

The singer then placed his microphone down on the desk, stood up and left, saying: ‘We don’t do that,’ before calling Verdi ‘rude’.

The reporter then responded to his retreating back: ‘I’m rude, why am I rude Maluma? I think this is what people say, this is what people think.’

The Marry Me star, who appeared opposite Jennfier Lopez in the hit rom-com earlier this year, collaborated with Lebanese singer Mryiam Fares and Nicki Minaj on the official Fifa Qatar World Cup anthem, Tukoh Taka.

After his interviewee questioned if he was ‘whitewashing’ Qatar’s human rights record, he walked out of the interview (Picture: Reuters/Kan News Israel)

The Colombian singer has also been making waves in Hollywood, where he starred opposite J Lo in Marry Me (Picture: Barry Wetcher/Universal)

He also previously recorded a song for the contentious World Cup held in Russia in 2018, before recording a track with Madonna in 2019, Medellin, and voicing the character of Mariano in Disney’s 2021 family film Encanto.

A source previously told Metro.co.uk that Shakira was ‘never even in talks’ to perform at the World Cup opening ceremony.

Meanwhile, Dua Lipa released a statement confirming she was not performing at the World Cup and had never ‘been involved in any negotiation to perform’.

She added she looked forward to visiting Qatar ‘when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup’.

Dua Lipa previously released a statement confirming she was not performing at the tournament (Picture: Don Arnold/Getty Images)

The 2022 tournament has proved hugely controversial due to the host country’s human rights record, the mistreatment and deaths of approximately 6,500 migrant workers while building the tournament’s seven new stadia, and the fact same-sex relationships are illegal.

Qatar has laws banning same-sex sexual activity, with those found guilty given lengthy prison sentences or even the death penalty.

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Women’s rights are also severely restricted in the country.

Distinguished Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman has since made a surprise appearance at the ceremony with a monologue urging unity, while Robbie Williams defended his decision to participate and BTS star Jungkook has opened proceedings despite previous backlash.

Metro.co.uk has contacted a rep for Maluma for comment.

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