Entertainment
MNEK applauds Qatar being held accountable over human rights issues but argues west ‘aren’t angels’-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro
The singer-songwriter cites race and sexism issues in western countries.
MNEK says he ‘just wouldn’t agree to perform in Qatar (Picture: Reuters)
MNEK believes western countries shouldn’t be looked at as ‘better than’ when it comes to the criticism of Qatar hosting the World Cup and the country’s human rights issues.
Celebrities such as David Beckham and Morgan Freeman have faced criticism over their involvement with the Qatar World Cup in light of the country’s laws against homosexuality and questions over the deaths of local workers who built infrastructure for the football event.
Several musicians, such as Dua Lipa and Mel C, have stated they would reject an offer to perform at the World Cup and MNEK is right with them.
However, he highlighted the fact that while it is right to condemn Qatar for its shortfalls, western countries also have work to do when it comes to race, sexism and the LGBTQ+ community.
The Never Forget You hitmaker, who is openly gay, told Metro.co.uk at the Mobo Awards in London on Wednesday night: ‘I wouldn’t do it. The truth is it is a human rights issue.
‘It shouldn’t be from this point of view of looking at Western countries as better than because we have not fully resolved our issues as far as human rights, as far as women, as far as human rights, as far as people of colour.’
The singer-songwriter spoke to Metro.co.uk at the MOBO Awards in London (Picture: Getty Images)
David Beckham has faced mounting backlash over his role as an ambassador for Qatar Tourism (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
He added: ‘So I think absolutely hold Qatar accountable for its lack of human rights but we’re on that same boat. We are not angels.’
MNEK has previously spoken about the pressure he felt to be ‘person of great importance to the Black queer community’ when he rose to fame as a singer.
Dua Lipa said performing in Qatar amid their human rights issues would go ‘against [her] beliefs’ (Picture: Getty Images)
Mel C recently said she’d feel ‘uncomfortable’ being a part of this year’s World Cup (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I felt the need to be this martyr, or this person of great importance to the Black queer community, but I think it’s more like, I don’t know, I feel like my actions do that more,’ he said while appearing on the Beats by Dr Dre’s INFORMAL series.
‘I think when I’m being myself, and I’m not worried about the way it looks, I think a lot of people find a lot of comfort in that.’
The Wrote A Song About You singer-songwriter added: ‘A lot of people think that homosexuality is a very caucasian mindset, which is crazy, which is actual lunacy.
‘It goes and spreads across everybody. The conversations I’ve had with certain people who look like me but maybe don’t live like me about homosexuality have lacked nuance, and have lacked real understanding.’
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