Several Hollywood stars and social media influencers are receiving backlash for traveling to Saudi Arabia despite controversy surrounding the country’s human rights record.
Insiderpreviously reported that the Middle Eastern country was enlisting celebrities and influencers to document their all-expenses-paid trips as part of its efforts to improve tourism and repair its reputation.
However, given the country’s human rights controversies — including the killing of SaudiWashington Postcolumnist Jamal Khashoggi last year — many celebrities who have documented their trips to Riyadh, the country’s capital, are receiving intense backlash on social media.
Armie Hammerwas among the famous faces who traveled to Riyadh over the weekend for the MDL Beast Festival and praised the event on Instagram.
“What I just witnessed was truly special,” wrote Hammer, 33. “I saw Saudi men and women ecstatic about an event that they never thought they would ever see in their lifetimes… it felt like a cultural shift. A change. Like Woodstock in the 1960’s. Social evolution is slow and takes time but what I was able to be a part of felt like one giant seed of growth. The people there throwing themselves into the experience will lead a cultural revolution that we all need to get behind and support. #mdlbeast.”
The actor received criticism after his posts, including from journalist Yashar Ali.
“Hope it was worth it @armiehammer. Did you find Jamal Khashoggi’s body while you were there?” Ali wrote.
On Monday, just days after the Instagram posts started, acourt in Saudi Arabia announced it had sentenced 5 people to deathfor the killing of Khashoggi, who was a critic of the royal family. He was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey at 59.
Diet Prada, an Instagram account sharing criticisms of the trip, shared a statement from modelEmily Ratajkowski, who declined the offer to attend the festival.
“It is very important to me to make clear my support for the rights of women, the LGBTQ community, freedom of expression, and the right to a free press. I hope coming forward on this brings more attention to the injustices happening there,” Ratajkowski, 28, said.
On one post, a follower wrote, “A life is value nothing there. Just if you have money. Human rights is not exist in this country.”
In response, Phillippe, 45, wrote, “Yes it does. read something recent. better yet read about other countries present or past as they changed and evolved. grow up. get off the internet.”
He responded to another follower, “F— off and grow up,” and said, “shut up racist loser,” when criticized on another Instagram post.
Reps for Hammer and Phillippe did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
Sofia Richiealso documented many photos on social media from her stay at The Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh. She shared a mirror selfie, which also featured influencerAlessandra Ambrosio, and captioned the shot, “Saudi girls” which garnered backlash, given the country’s harsh treatment of women.
Richie’s boyfriend,Scott Disick, also traveled to Riyadh and shared photos on Instagram.
Reps for Richie and Westwick did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
Other celebrities who attended MDL Beast and shared photos includedSteve Aokiand David Guetta, both of whom played at the concert, as well asOlivia Culpo, Winnie Harlow and modelJoan Smalls.
source: people.com
