Following the release of his official FIFA World Cup song “Tukok Taka” with Nicki Minaj and Lebanese singer Myriam Fares, Maluma’s in Qatar and doing press ahead of the highly-anticipated soccer tournament. However, in a recent interview earlier today (Nov. 18), a question regarding Qatar’s human rights violations caused the Colombian star to walk out displeased.
In an interview with Israel’s Kan TV, the “Felices Los 4” singer was asked why he chose not to boycott the Qatar tournament like Shakira and Dua Lipa decided to. The reporter mentioned that the aforementioned singers refused to be a part of this event due to Qatar’s human rights violations. He then asked Maluma directly, “Don’t you have a problem with human rights violations in this country?”
To this, Maluma replied, “Yeah, but it’s something that 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. And playing soccer too.”
The reporter didn’t stop there, though. He pressed by following up, “But can you understand just people are going to say the very presence of you here you are helping whitewashing–,” and gets cut off by Maluma asking his presumed team that’s out of the camera shot if he has to answer. They say no.
Maluma then gets up and starts to walk away. When the host asked what the problem is, to which the Colombian superstar answered, “You’re rude.” The host then replied, “This is what people say. This is what people think.”
What a way to start off the FIFA World Cup weekend. Nonetheless, Maluma is set to perform “Tukok Taka” with Fares on Nov. 19 at the Doha’s FIFA Fan Festival’s opening in Qatar. Will he further comment on the situation? We’ll keep an eye out to see what happens.
