Zara Larsson pulls out of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concert over UAE's role in Sudan war
After fan pressure over UAE backing of Sudan's RSF, the Swedish pop star says she won't perform at the December Yasalam after-race show.
What to know
- Larsson was booked to perform with Lewis Capaldi at the Yasalam After-Race Concerts on December 3, part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
- Fans pressured her to cancel citing UAE support for Sudan's RSF, invoking the Macklemore/Ed Sheeran precedent over pro-Palestine speech.
- Larsson's initial deleted reply confirming withdrawal was followed by a fuller statement saying the decision was not purely political.
- As of the reporting, Ticketmaster and the event's own Yasalam page still listed Larsson as a performer, leaving her status with organizers unresolved.
The dispute Some see Larsson's withdrawal as a principled stand against the UAE's role in Sudan, while others question why the UAE is singled out when other host countries have comparable records. · positions read across 5 posts and comments
Other FIA-affiliated series have already cancelled or relocated Middle East races, so the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is likely to follow.
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“A lot of series that's racing under FIA are either cancelling or changed venue to somewhere else... There's no way they're going back to Abu Dhabi.”
BulkNoodles · Reddit ↗
Singling out the UAE while other countries, including the US, have comparable records is inconsistent.
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“Why must every artist boycott an entire country, and not let their fans see them perform? ... Are we forgetting the USA has done shit and will continue to do shit that makes what some of these countries do look like actual childplay?”
Easy-Permission8889 · Reddit ↗
Dark humor about the safety risk of holding the race in Abu Dhabi amid regional tensions.
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“If they keep the race in Abu Dhabi, the drivers could be dodging Iranian drones as an added challenge.”
denkenach · Reddit ↗
Zara Larsson Swedish pop singer
Kenneth Roth Human rights advocate, former HRW executive directorUnited Arab Emirates (government) Host nation of Abu Dhabi Grand PrixRapid Support Forces (RSF) Sudanese paramilitary groupLewis Capaldi Co-headliner of the Yasalam After-Race Concerts
How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump postscomments
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3
Larsson posts fuller explanation for skipping the show
Larsson said her decision was not purely political and that she still wants to perform for people in every country, while suggesting a more formal statement could follow.
“I have spent some time thinking about everything and decided that to not do the show aligns with me the most right now, for many different personal reasons beyond politics.”
— Zara Larsson -
Exactly, I'm trying to understand this logic if anybody would care to explain?? I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say while I agree that Saudi Arabia is a corrupt country, by the same logic these artists shouldn't perform in the US either. Risk aside due to current events, why must every artist boycott an entire country, and not let their fans…
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
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If they keep the race in Abu Dhabi, the drivers could be dodging Iranian drones as an added challenge.
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Kenneth Roth publicizes withdrawal, ties it to UAE arming RSF
Human rights advocate Kenneth Roth amplified the story on X, framing Larsson's withdrawal as a response to the UAE sending arms and mercenaries to the RSF in Sudan.
“Because the United Arab Emirates is sending arms and mercenaries to the genocidal Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, Swedish pop star Zara Larsson is pulling out of her scheduled December 3rd performance at the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.”
— Kenneth Roth -
Because the United Arab Emirates is sending arms and mercenaries to the genocidal Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, Swedish pop star Zara Larsson is pulling out of her scheduled December 3rd performance at the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
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Yup. A lot of series that's racing under FIA are either cancelling or changed venue to somewhere else. WRC cancelled their Saudi race, while WEC changed their Qatar and Bahrain race to Barcelona-Catalunya and Monza. Heck, even F1 themselves already moved one of their Middle East races(Bahrain GP) venue to Malaysia. There's no way they're going…
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The organizers have already found a new location the only reason it's not cancelled yet is because they want to hold out as long as possible in hopes that it might not get cancelled. If nothing changes with the current political climate then it will definitely get cancelled.
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NME reports Larsson's withdrawal, notes listings unchanged
NME reported the cancellation and noted that at time of writing Ticketmaster and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix's Yasalam page still advertised Larsson as a performer alongside Imagine Dragons, The Chainsmokers and The Script.
“I will not be going to Abu Dhabi.”
— Zara Larsson, Pop singer · source -
background
Larsson tells a fan she will not perform in Abu Dhabi — Responding to a fan asking her to read about UAE involvement in Sudan and cancel, Larsson replied that she would not go to Abu Dhabi; the reply was later deleted but screenshots circulated.
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background
Fans pressure Larsson to boycott Abu Dhabi Grand Prix show — Following backlash over Macklemore being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after a pro-Palestine speech, fans urged Larsson to cancel her Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concert, citing the UAE's alleged role in Sudan's civil war.
What people are saying 0 voices from 0 sites · best of 5 · verbatim
- Will organizers or Ticketmaster formally remove Larsson from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concert lineup?
- Will the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix itself be relocated, following other FIA series' moves away from the Middle East?