A Facebook page called “Against Rihanna performing in occupied Cyprus,” with more than 3,000 fans by noon on Tuesday, launched a campaign after Turks preemptively created a Facebook page called “Bring Rihanna to Cyprus,” which had just 250 fans on Tuesday. “With Rihanna being a big celebrity it sends out the wrong message to people. Let’s show our opposition to the planned performance, get all your friends to join,” the Greek Cypriot page protesting Rihanna’s gig said.
Yılmaz Bektaş, owner of the Fashion Castle Hotel, will reportedly pay Rihanna $1 million for her performance. The hotel is to be opened after the holy month of Ramadan. The pop star is a friend of Bektaş’s spouse, 2006 Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza.
Greek media outlets reported that Greek lobby groups will also send letters to Rihanna urging her to reconsider her performance.
Last month, Lopez cancelled a planned concert at the $220 million Cratos Premium Hotel and Casino in the KKTC, leading to anger among Turks and Turkish Cypriots. She later apologized to disappointed fans and removed a statement at her website justifying her backing out of the performance by mentioning human rights violations in Turkish Cyprus.
