Mariah Carey is under fire for performing for a country’s leader who is often referred to as a dictator by human rights groups. Carey headed to Africa to perform in Nigeria and Angola. However, it was her performance for Angolan President Josè Eduardo Dos Santos that caused the Human Rights Foundation to speak out.
According to the Human Rights Foundation, Dos Santos has murdered many and exploited the country’s resources to his own gain. He reportedly used country resources to pay Carey $1 million to perform a two-hour concert at an event for the Angolan Red Cross. Four years ago the pop star apologized after she was critized for performing for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2009.
“Mariah Carey can’t seem to get enough dictator cash, reportedly more than $1 million this time,” Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen said in a statement. “She performed for the family of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Now, she goes from private performances to public displays of support and credibility for one of Africa’s chief human rights violators and most corrupt tyrants.”
Carey is staying mum about the performance and any controversy surrounding it. Carey was pictured with the tworesident and his family and in different gowns throughout her two-hour performance. Carey’s show was sponsored by Unitel, a mobile-phone company owned by Dos Santos’ daughter, Isabel. His daughter is also head of the Angolan Red Cross, which reportedly received $65,000 in benefit funds from the concert.
Carey is just one of a string of stars who’ve angered groups like the Human Rights Foundation for playing for controversial figures. Usher, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and 50 Cent have all come under fire for performances. They all apologized and Beyonce, Usher and 50 Cent later donated their earnings.
