The 'Smack That' hitmaker might have his Sri Lanka concert dropped after government officials deny to issue the R 'n' B singer a visa to perform in the country following his controversial video.
- March 24, 2010
AceShowbiz - Akon's upcoming concert in Sri Lanka has been thrown into jeopardy after government officials denied the R&B singer a visa to enter the country. The "Smack That" hitmaker has come under fire from locals in the capital city of Colombo, who took offense to his video "Sexy Chick", which features groups of scantily-clad women dancing at a pool party in front of a Buddha statue.
Some residents in the largely Buddhist country were so incensed by the promo, they held a protest against the singer's April show on Monday, March 22 and gathered outside the headquarters of the Maharaja Organization, the broadcaster sponsoring the gig. Four network employees were injured as the protesters hurled rocks and stones at the building.
The civil unrest has now prompted government officials to ban Senegalese-American Akon from performing in the country. Anusha Palpita, the director-general of the Government Information Department, says, "Taking into consideration the allegations leveled against the singer Akon, the government had decided not to issue him a visa to conduct the concert in Sri Lanka."
Promoters for the concert have yet to comment on the ban, and representatives for Akon had yet to respond o requests for a comment as WENN went to press.
