ALICIA Keys and Pharrell Williams have been criticised ahead of a gig in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
On Saturday Alicia, 43, and Pharrell, 50, will take to the stage in Jeddah for a big money performance as part of the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024.
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Meanwhile the Fallin’ hitmaker will today host the third edition of her initiative called Women to Women, also in Jeddah, in honour of International Women’s Day.
It will see influential females gather to discuss how women are pushing the culture forward in Saudi Arabia and around the world.
However human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has blasted Alicia and Pharrell for appearing in Saudi Arabia given the country’s strict laws against women.
He said: “Alicia Keys and Pharrell Williams should not be performing in Saudi Arabia. It’s a dictatorship that persecutes women, LGBTs and religious and ethnic minorities.
“Women are in jail because of the country’s sexist laws. The regime murdered and dismembered the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“It is total hypocrisy for Saudi Arabia to host Alicia Keys for an International Women’s Day event when the regime jails advocates for women’s equality. I’m shocked that Alicia Keys is colluding with this whitewashing of Saudi misogyny.”
Peter added: “No artists should be going to Saudi unless they speak out publicly to demand women’s freedom and an end to other human rights abuses in the country, including the freeing of all political prisoners.”
It will mark Alicia’s third trip to Saudi Arabia but her first time in Jeddah.
She previously hosted Women to Women in Al-Ula.
Ahead of the performance, Alicia said: “I am thrilled to be back on stage, this time in Jeddah, performing in a place I have never performed in before, and in a way I never have in this region.
“I’m also so inspired to connect in a meaningful way with the amazing women there to discuss cultural, creative and boundary-pushing narratives we are collectively and individually leading.”