DUBAI: A Norwegian singer said she has received death threats after using a black actor in her latest music video.
Sophie Elise told Radio 1 Newsbeat that she came under fire online due to black actor’s portrayal of her love interest in the video for her new song, “All Your Friends.”
“There’s been so much hate, it’s the most brutal thing I’ve seen in my life.
“The video was supposed to be about love. It just shows that it’s 2017 but we haven’t gone very far,” she said.
Elise, 22, added that she is afraid to leave her house and has suspended her Instagram account over the online abuse.
The pop star was recently signed by the Universal Music Group, which has also signed Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.
Comments on the YouTube post of the video included death threats and racist and sexist abuse.
“I actually didn’t want to remove the comments because I wanted people to see that this type of thing still goes on.
“I’ve been a public figure in Norway for about six years so I am used to getting a lot of hate.
“But I really didn’t think people would care about the guy’s skin color in my video.”
The star says she has not been put off using black models or actors in her future videos.
“You know my friends who are black got really sad because they were questioning like, ‘Are we worth less?’
“Also I’m really sad for my parents because they are worried about me and I don’t want them to see things like this.
“The best thing I can do is just keep making music and beautiful videos and keep sticking-up for what I believe in.”
Pop star receives death threats for using black actor in music video
Pop star receives death threats for using black actor in music video
Mohamed Abdo rings in New Year with landmark Saudi celebration in London
- Abdo performs 16 of his most beloved songs over 4 hours
- He lauds ‘genius choice’ of first Saudi-led New Year show
LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s music icon Mohamed Abdo welcomed the New Year with a historic sold-out concert in London, marking what organizers described as the first Kingdom-led celebration in the UK capital.
Organized by Global Gala, the event drew more than 1,400 people, with Saudis traveling from the Kingdom and across Europe to attend.
There were also local fans, underscoring the wide appeal of the evening and the growing international presence of Saudi Arabia’s cultural events.
The concert was held at the Great Room at Grosvenor House, a venue of particular significance for Abdo because it was the same location where he first performed in London.
Tickets sold out rapidly following the show’s announcement. The organizers said the strong response reflected both Abdo’s enduring popularity and the anticipation surrounding a Saudi-led New Year’s event abroad.
When asked about the timing of the concert, Abdo praised the organizers’
decision to stage the event on New Year’s Eve, describing it as a “genius choice” that aligned naturally with the spirit of welcoming a new year.
Over the course of four hours, Abdo performed 16 songs, spanning decades of his career.
The audience responded warmly throughout the night, particularly during well-known tracks including “Al Amaken,” “Ashofak Kil Youm,” and “Majmouat Insan.”
The audience included prominent figures from the worlds of entertainment, media and public life.
