Maluma – the Colombian singer behind World Cup anthem – WALKS OUT of TV interview as he’s accused of ‘whitewashing’ human rights abuses in Qatar
- Maluma was asked if his being in Qatar was ‘whitewashing’ human rights abuses
- Reporter Moav Vardi asked if Maluma had a problem with violations in Qatar
- The singer said he was at the World Cup to ‘enjoy life’ and ‘the party of soccer’
- When asked about whitewashing, he called the reporter ‘rude’ and stormed out
- Maluma features on the World Cup anthem with Nicki Minaj and Myriam Fares
Colombian singer Maluma, who sings on the World Cup’s official anthem, stormed out of an Israeli TV interview after being accused of ‘whitewashing’ human rights abuses in Qatar.
During a BBC broadcast to Israeli public television, the 28-year-old singer was asked: ‘Don’t you have a problem with human rights violations in this country?’
Maluma, whose real name is Juan Luis Londoño Arias, responded by saying it was something he could not resolve and that he was just there to ‘enjoy the party of soccer’.
After being asked by reporter Moav Vardi if his presence at the tournament was ‘helping whitewashing’ of human rights abuses, the singer called the reporter rude and stormed out.
The star features alongside Lebanese singer Mryiam Fares and Nicki Minaj on the official Fifa Qatar World Cup anthem called Tukoh Taka.
During a BBC broadcast to Israeli public television, Maluma (right) was asked by reporter Moav Vardi (left): ‘Don’t you have a problem with human rights violations in this country?’
In the clip of the interview, Maluma is asked: ‘Shakira and Dua Lipa refused to take part in this World Cup due to the bad records of Qatar regarding human rights.
‘Obviously people think what, Maluma don’t you have a problem with human rights violations in this country?’
The star replies: ‘Yeah but it’s something I can’t resolve. I just came here to enjoy life, enjoy soccer, the party of soccer.
‘It’s not actually something that I have to be involved with.
‘I’m here enjoying my music and the beautiful life playing soccer too.’
After being asked if his presence at the tournament was ‘helping whitewashing’ of human rights abuses, the singer called the reporter rude and stormed out
Maluma stormed out of an Israeli TV interview after being accused of ‘whitewashing’ human rights abuses in Qatar
After Maluma asked whether he had to answer the ‘whitewashing’ question, people are heard talking in the background but it cannot be made out what is said.
Maluma then says ‘We don’t do that’ as he stands up to leave the interview and calls the reporter ‘rude’.
In response Vardi asks: ‘I’m rude? Why am I rude Maluma? This is what people say, it is what people think.’
The singer, who has a girlfriend called Susana Gomez, is seen partying in the desert with Minaj and Fares in the World Cup anthem video.
The singer, who has a girlfriend called Susana Gomez (pictured), features alongside Lebanese singer Myriam Fares and Nicki Minaj on the official Fifa Qatar World Cup anthem called Tukoh Taka
Mulama collaborated with American singer Madonna in 2019 on a track called Medellin
The Colombian singer also featured alongside Jennifer Lopez in the 2022 film Marry Me
In the music video for the song, Minaj arrives in a packed bus full of revellers before Fares and Maluma join later.
Maluma previously recorded a song for the 2018 world Cup in Russia.
In 2019 he appeared collaborated with Madonna, voiced the character Mariano in Disney’s 2021 film Encanto and features alongside Jennifer Lopez in the 2022 film Marry Me.
Other performers such as Dua Lipa and Rod Stewart rejected the invitation to perform, citing the human rights violations in the country.
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