'Not right to go': Rod Stewart hailed for snubbing Qatar's $1M offer to perform at FIFA World Cup, here's why
Sir Rod Stewart was given a $1 million contract to perform at the FIFA World Cup 2022, but because of Qatar's human rights record, the rock musician declined it. Earlier, football icon David Beckham came under intense scrutiny by the public for accepting the nation’s proposal to represent them as one of the ambassadors.
The musician added that he believed it would be inappropriate to do a set in the World Cup host country because it is controversial and homosexuality is against the law in the country. “I was actually offered a lot of money, over $1m, to play there 15 months ago," Stewart, 77, told the Sunday Times. “I turned it down. It's not right to go. And the Iranians should be out too for supplying arms,” he said in reference to drones supplied by the country to Russia which was barred from the tournament. Fans watching games in Qatar, where being gay may result in imprisonment or even the death penalty, “have got to watch out,” he continued. Having previously said that he was "surrounded by gay men in the 70s," Stewart is seen as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.
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In 1976, when few popular songs addressed the lives of homosexual men, the rocker released ‘The Killing of Georgie’, a record that details the murder of a gay friend. He asserted that it would have been "good" to sing the song as a protest during the football tournament's opening ceremony. The singer's remarks come amid criticism that certain celebrities have received for supporting and attending the next FIFA World Cup. Twitterati have heaped praise on the rockstar for declining the lucrative offer from Qatar as one user wrote, “Because he has values and millions of dollars." Another one said, "It's not about the money, it's saying he's not going to play in a nation that attacks a minority for existing. Hoped the England team would pull out but who am I kidding."
One person added, "Well done, Rod!" Another one stated, "Well done you. Pity others didn’t follow your example." Given that he had previously been seen as a friend of the LGBT community, David Beckham came under heavy fire for accepting a rumored £10 million to be an ambassador for Qatar 2022.
It's not about the money, it's saying he's not going to play in a nation that attacks a minority for existing.
— Pro-Democracy Warrior ☮️🇺🇦❁ (@Truth_Comes_1st) November 13, 2022
Hoped the England team would pull out but who am I kidding.
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