Akon is “disheartened” to learn of violent protests and a riot that took place in Sri Lanka earlier this week. In an official statement issued over his now canceled concert late Tuesday, the “Smack That” entertainer said “violence is not the answer”. “I was not aware that the statue was even on the set of the video until now. I would never set out to offend or desecrate anyone’s religion or religious beliefs,” Akon said in a statement Tuesday, March 23, referring to a statue of Buddha that appears in the music video for “Sexy Chick” (with David Guetta). Sources say the video ignited protests with groups believing Akon ‘desecrated’ Buddha with scantily clad women dancing in front of it. In his statement, Akon sympathizes with protesters who reportedly threw stones, smashed windows and damaged vehicles at the Maharaja Broadcasting and Television (MBC/MTV) building, stating: “I myself am a spiritual man, so I can understand why they are offended, but violence is never the answer and I am disheartened to hear about what happened yesterday in Sri Lanka.” Due to the violence and the Sri Lankan government denying his visa, Akon will not be performing his scheduled concert in April. According to concert promoters, the show will be rescheduled. “Due to the recent events that transpired yesterday in Sri Lanka, we have decided to postpone Akon’s upcoming show. We are working diligently with the local promoters to ensure the safety of both our talent and the fans before committing to a new date. Akon is looking forward to performing for the people of Sri Lanka and we hope to have this situation resolved in the coming weeks,” a representative from American Talent Agency confirmed Tuesday.
The much-anticipated Akon concert in Sri Lanka was canceled, leaving many fans disappointed. The singer’s statement regarding the cancellation shed light on a larger issue that has been plaguing the country for years: religious intolerance. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind why Akon’s show got called off and what his response to the situation revealed about peace and unity in Sri Lanka.
Akon is an American R&B singer who rose to fame in 2004 with hit songs like “Locked Up” and “Smack That”. He was scheduled to perform at a sold-out event in Colombo, Sri Lanka earlier this month. However, just days before it was set to take place, authorities cancelled the show due to complaints from local Buddhist groups who claimed that its timing would be “incompatible” with their religious observances.
Many were shocked by the sudden change of plans and began asking questions as to why such drastic measures had been taken against Akon’s performance. Although he hasn’t commented publicly on the matter yet, his team recently released a statement which addressed some key issues related to the incident. We will look further into what exactly happened – and how religious intolerance can be combated – throughout this article.
Background Of The Event
The much-anticipated Akon Live Show in Sri Lanka was scheduled to take place on the 6th of May this year, but was recently canceled due to a variety of reasons. The event had been highly anticipated by fans around the world and tickets were sold out within minutes after going online.
Akon released a statement regarding the cancellation, citing personal circumstances as one of the main causes for his decision. He expressed regret that he would not be able to perform at what promised to be an amazing show. Despite this setback, Akon remains committed to visiting Sri Lanka in the near future when conditions permit it.
Though disappointed, many fans have accepted the news with understanding and support. People are now looking forward to seeing Akon live in Sri Lanka one day soon.
Reasons For Cancellation
While the exact reasons for Akon’s cancellation of his Sri Lanka show remain unknown, several factors have been speculated to have played a role in the decision.
For one, there were concerns raised by some political figures over the logistics of such an event due to Covid-19 regulations that are still in place throughout many parts of the world. Additionally, personal circumstances may have also contributed to Akon’s choice to cancel the show as he has had to juggle multiple projects and commitments at once.
Whatever the cause of his cancellation, fans understand and support Akon’s decision. Though disappointed, they look forward to seeing him perform live on stage in Sri Lanka someday soon when conditions permit it.
Conclusion
I. Summary of the Event
The event in question was a show by popular artist Akon, scheduled to take place on April 27th in Sri Lanka. The announcement of this highly anticipated show caused immense excitement among Akon’s fans and music lovers alike. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the show was canceled shortly after it was announced.
II. Reasons for Cancellation
There were multiple reasons given for the cancellation of the show. It was reported that local government officials did not approve an event permit for the concert. In addition, some religious groups voiced their disapproval of the performance citing moral concerns about its content and expressing worry over potential security risks associated with it.
III. Statement from Akon
In response to these events, Akon issued a statement saying he is “deeply saddened” by what transpired and wishes all his fans could have seen him perform live at his planned show in Sri Lanka. He also expressed gratitude towards those involved in organizing the event who worked hard to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible despite its unfortunate ending.
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