Erykah Badu Defends Her Performance for Swaziland Dictator: "I Had No Idea of the Political Climate"

"I can't be held responsible for the situation in the kingdom because I signed up as an artist, not as a political activist," she says

By Bruna Nessif May 02, 2014 10:17 PMTags
Erykah BaduJason Merritt/BET/Getty Images

Erykah Badu isn't the first and she probably won't be the last.

But the singer is the latest celeb to face backlash after performing for a dictator on Tuesday. Badu sang "Happy Birthday" at a party for Swaziland's King Mswati III, the leader of what Amnesty International describes as "Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy."

After the event, Badu told the Dallas Morning News that the show "was harmless," saying, "I want to address the people, not a group or a government agency. The people know I was not endorsing the king or helping to further his political agenda. I have no agenda. I went into a situation not completely knowing the political climate of the kingdom. I can't be held responsible for the situation in the kingdom because I signed up as an artist, not as a political activist. I don't belong to anyone or to anything. Anything I do is because I am a human being, and I am for the people."

However, that didn't stop folks from criticizing the singer on Twitter—and Badu was quick to respond.

"I was not paid by the KING. I had no idea of the political climate. How could I? Why would I know this ? You are an idiot," is one of many examples of Badu's tweets back to those who were arguing her decision.

With photos, she also wrote, "As I sat, in the stands @the stadium I felt (somehow)something bigger would arise. Didnt know what tho. ... Many groups performed. It was an all day event. The culture was simply breath taking. Uncontaminated. Ancient. Swazi's proudly perform for Their King, As I watch,w/thousands cheering him on..That's what I saw. "

Tweeters responded by stating that attendance is mandatory not voluntary, and that there are no free and fair elections in Swaziland, to which Badu simply stated, "I think that's how KINGDOMS twerk."

Well, all right then.