14 DAY TRIAL // Lady Gaga was supposed to perform in Jakarta to 52,000 fans in just a few days, but she was forced to back down amid pressure from Islamic groups who branded her a “messenger of the devil.” The singer broke the news to her fans on Twitter.
The controversy began last week, as organizers found out they didn't get the permit for the concert, even though tickets for the event had already sold out.
The Islamic Defenders Front warned Gaga that they would not allow her to perform in Jakarta, saying her lyrics, her costumes and her dance moves were confirmation that she was Satan's advocate who would lead youth astray.
They also threatened her they would show up at the airport in protest and would bar her from stepping off it.
If that wasn't enough to alarm the singer, protesters also bought tickets to her show and said they would attend just so they could ruin it – but without harm to the audience, they said.
TMZ has confirmation that the June 3 gig will no longer take place, with Gaga herself tweeting to comfort upset fans.
She was afraid for her life and for those who would attend.
“Gaga's management team announced today there were major security concerns regarding the June 3 gig in Jakarta – all because a few Islamic extremists were pissed about Gaga's risque costumes and dance moves, which they felt corrupted Muslim youths,” TMZ reports.
“The Indonesian Council of Ulema chairman, Cholil Ridwan, fervently urged fellow Muslims not to attend the show, saying, 'It's intended to destroy the nation's morality',” the report further notes.
“Security concerns for the concert skyrocketed from such beliefs, so much so the Jakarta police refused to issue the show a permit, even though 52,000 tickets had already been sold,” adds the same media outlet.
Over the weekend, Gaga took to Twitter to break the sad news to fans and to promise them she would make it up to them.
She doesn't say how she plans to do that, but fans believe she will find a way eventually.
“We had to cancel the concert in Indonesia. I'm so very sorry to the fans & just as devastated as you if not more. You are everything to me. I will try to put together something special for you. My love for Indonesia has only grown,” the singer writes on her page.