Beyonce Knowles, the R&B singer known for flaunting her voluptuous curves, decided to cancel a concert in Kuala Lampur, a city on the eastern border of Malaysia. To the disappointment of many Malaysian fans, the singer will instead perform Nov. 1 in Jakarta, a city in neighboring Indonesia, where the censorship laws aren’t as stiff.
Although about 86 percent of the Indonesian population is Muslim, a figure greater than Malaysia’s 60 percent, its regulations regarding dress and behavior are much less stringent. Malaysia’s censorship laws require that female performers cover themselves from the top of their chest to their knees including the shoulders.
Apparently this is where Beyonce draws the line. You can talk about her mother, you can criticize her acting abilities, you can even talk about her singing, but don’t you dare ask her to wear clothes. But I suppose everyone has a limit. There’s only so much a woman can take, right?
Malaysia has some of the strictest censorship laws in the world. It’s known for closely following the strict values of Islam. In recent years, the Malaysian government has banned such TV shows as Fox’s animated sitcom “Family Guy” and NBC’s “Friends” (there has been speculation that they already knew that Ross and Rachel were going to get together at the end of the show, so they didn’t really miss anything).
They have also banned movies including Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ” (2004), Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” (2006) and George Miller’s “Babe: Pig in the City” (1998). I thought “Babe” should be banned also, but “Brokeback Mountain”? Come on.
Beyonce isn’t the first singer to run into the brass knuckles of Malaysian censorship. In 2003, the American rap-rock band, Linkin Park, was banned from wearing shorts, jumping up and down, or screaming during its concert. It was pretty much like going to a Wayne Newton concert sans the Las Vegas showgirls. In 2004, singer Mariah Carey was asked to cover up as well, and in 2006, Malaysian concert organizers were fined for organizing a Pussycat Dolls concert and promoting indecent behavior (“Don’t you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me” equals indecency).
Even Gwen Stefani made what she referred to as “a major sacrifice” this past August when she complied with Malaysian dress-code regulations during her concert at a stadium in Kuala Lampur. Her decision to cover up came after student activists called for Stefani’s concert to be canceled due to her sultry reputation.
Many protesters believe that the sexy dance moves, skimpy outfits and the “bootylicious” bodies of many of today’s pop stars may corrupt Malaysia’s youth. Indeed, Malaysia isn’t ready for that jelly, and its lack of readiness cost them one of the greatest spectacles in pop music.
There are a few things that we need to take from all this. First is that Beyonce should be invited to every party on every college campus in the country, because if this incident is any indication, she won’t show up unless she’s allowed to wear a skimpy outfit.
Second, if you ever have the opportunity to date Beyonce, or any woman who won’t do anything unless she’s allowed to be half naked, marry her!
All joking aside, I must say, I am a little confused by Beyonce’s decision. I’ve heard of plenty of women not doing things because they didn’t want to take their clothes off, but what woman doesn’t do her job because she has to keep her clothes on? Some women even look better with their clothes on (Liza Minnelli for example).
It seems like backward thinking to me. And why cancel a concert over something so small? Having to be covered from chest to knees so that you can perform in front of thousands of people who appreciate your talent doesn’t really seem like that big of a deal. I’d still go see Beyonce if she was completely covered up. As a matter of fact, I would see Beyonce any way I could … It’s Beyonce!
At a time when sexual harassment lawsuits run rampant through the workplace – and Isaiah Thomas’ office – Beyonce seemingly embraces being objectified. When singers like Diana Ross and former video vixens like Karrine Steffans denounce the sexual exploitation of women in music, Beyonce stands tall, and preferably half-naked in front of adoring fans.
Move over James Dean, Beyonce Knowles is the rebel for a new generation.