Gaga's Apology After Indonesian Muslims Force Concert Cancellation
Lady Gaga has apologized to fans after canceling her sold-out concert in Indonesia following serious threats from Islamic groups.
Gaga, who is arguably one of the most prominent names in pop music today, was warned not to perform the concert by The Islamic Defenders Front who said that said the singer's sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt youth, according to CBS News.
"We had to cancel the concert in Indonesia. I'm so very sorry to the fans & just as devastated as you if not more. You are everything to me," Gaga tweeted on Sunday.
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"I will try to put together something special for you," she added. "My love for Indonesia has only grown. #GagaSendsLoveToJakarta and all its people."
Although the 26-year-old has a large Indonesian fan base, a large number of concert tickets were allegedly purchased by the group who claim to have bought tickets only so that they could wreak havoc from inside of the 52,000-seat stadium in the capital, Jakarta.
"This is a victory for Indonesian Muslims," said Salim Alatas, one of the leaders of the Islamic Defenders Front. "Thanks to God for protecting us from a kind of devil."
The news comes just two weeks after it was revealed that Gaga was unwelcome in the Philippines by Christians who believe that her music promotes "godlessness," according to Philippine Daily Inquirer.
"Her attitude seems to promote godlessness, offensive to any religion," Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, a member of the Permanent Council of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, recently told reporters.
Gaga, who has various multi-platinum hits worldwide including "Bad Romance" and "Born This Way," is often criticized for her blasphemous and overtly sexual music videos.
While police had initially denied the singer a permit over security concerns, they eventually granted it on condition that she tone down her raunchy act.
"Gaga's two-hour show will not hurt Indonesian Muslims. For God's sake, she is not a terrorist!" Johnny Purba, a concert ticket holder, vented to the Associated Press.
"This only shows to the world how weak security forces are in this country, how police are afraid of a bunch of hard-liners," he added.
Gaga immediately criticized the backlash and threats that she received from alleged religious groups, implying that their actions were somewhat hypocritical.
"There is nothing Holy about hatred," Gaga tweeted.
