Mathew Knowles insists Beyonce wouldn’t ‘deliberately hurt someone’ amid LGBTQ+ backlash over Dubai show-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro

Beyonce has not spoken out about the backlash surrounding her gig in Dubai (Picture: Getty Images)

Beyonce’s father Mathew Knowles has stepped in to defend the singer as she faces backlash from the LGBTQ+ community over her historic performance in Dubai. 

The Cuff It singer performed an exclusive concert to celebrate the opening of new hotel Atlantis The Royal on Saturday, with select influencers, celebrities and members of the press in attendance. 

It was the first time Beyonce, 41, has performed in the United Arab Emirates city and her first live performance since 2018. 

However, the Grammy-winning musician has been criticised for performing in Dubai where homosexuality is illegal. Many have highlighted that Beyonce is a staunch advocate of the LGBTQ+ community, and that her latest album, Renaissance, is viewed as a tribute to Black queer culture. 

Her father Mathew, who watched the Dubai show, has now weighed into the furore and argued that his superstar daughter has always stood for inclusiveness and wouldn’t ‘deliberately hurt someone’. 

Speaking to TMZ, the former Destiny’s Child manager, 71, said the concert united a diverse audience and that she gave and received respect from the UAE. 

The Grammy-winning singer performed a 90-minute show at new hotel Atlantis The Royal (Picture: Getty Images)

Beyonce is staunch supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, which is why upset has been caused over her decision to perform in Dubai where homosexuality is illegal (Picture: Getty Images)

Mathew also confirmed that the music icon will be announcing a Renaissance tour, but in her own time. 

Among those criticising Beyonce was RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Kitty Scott-Claus, who took to Twitter to ask if there was ‘one rule for one and one for another’. 

She wrote: ‘Can someone explain why everyone was cancelling David Beckham the other month but now celebrating Beyoncé for performing in Dubai?’ 

Mathew Knowles has said his daughter united the diverse audience (Picture: Getty Images)

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However, the reaction to the performance has been divided as others argued that while David Beckham was paid to promote Qatar during the World Cup despite its human rights abuses and anti-LGBTQ+ laws, Beyonce performed a private gig at a hotel.

It’s reported that the singer was paid an estimated $24million (£19m) to perform the exclusive show. 

During the Dubai concert, Beyonce performed a pared back setlist filled with mostly ballads she has released in recent years, including Spirit, Be Alive and Bigger, while also throwing it back to older hits such as Drunk In Love, Naughty Girl and Crazy In Love. 

In one of the most heartwarming moments, she was joined on-stage by her 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy, who performed choreography to Brown Skin Girl.

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MORE : Beyonce’s dad confirms Renaissance tour is coming and teases announcement soon

MORE : I was at Beyonce’s magical concert in Dubai – here’s what really went down at the surprise gig of the year

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