Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson has told fans she will not be performing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this December, following direct appeals from listeners who urged her to consider the role of the United Arab Emirates in the ongoing civil war in Sudan.
Larsson had been booked to share the stage with Scottish songwriter Lewis Capaldi on December 3 at Etihad Live on Yas Island. The fixture was organized under the banner of the Yasalam After-Race Concerts, the entertainment package running alongside the Formula 1 event. After a follower on social media urged the singer to research what the host nation has been doing in Sudan and step aside from the concert, Larsson delivered an immediate answer online, writing simply, "I will not be going to Abu Dhabi."
The initial post was soon taken down, but captures of the exchange were already circulating widely across music forums and social platforms. Larsson then returned to the subject to clarify her perspective. She wrote that her core aim as an artist has always been to travel and share music across borders, making the point that ordinary people should never be treated as synonymous with the governments in power over them. She explained that she wants to bring joy to audiences everywhere, adding that she has met wonderful individuals in every corner of the world and keeps that close to her heart. While she noted that her first response might have seemed like an impulsive reply to a comment, she explained that she had reflected on the circumstances and decided that withdrawing felt like the right choice on a personal level, moving beyond state politics. She also indicated that a formal statement on the matter may follow.
The backdrop to her withdrawal is the devastation in Sudan, where fighting has created what the United Nations now labels the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world. According to UN officials, thirteen million people were displaced from their homes as of last month. The war has been accompanied by widespread atrocities, including mass killings, sexual violence, assaults on medical centers, drone strikes directed at civilian infrastructure, and the forced recruitment of child soldiers.
International criticism has increasingly fallen on the United Arab Emirates over claims that the state provides financial backing to the Rapid Support Forces. That paramilitary group stands accused of crimes against humanity and is blamed for the deaths of thousands of civilians. A report by Human Rights Watch also found that a private security company based in Abu Dhabi provided training to members of the paramilitary organization. In response to these claims, the Emirati government has continued to firmly deny any backing for or involvement with the group.
Larsson is not the only high-profile artist facing the friction between international politics and touring commitments. Live music saw another clash recently when Macklemore was pulled from a run of Ed Sheeran dates after making a speech supporting Palestine. In Abu Dhabi, promotional material has yet to catch up with Larsson's comments. Ticketing vendors and Yasalam entertainment listings continued to advertise her joint appearance with Capaldi for December 3, while the broader weekend roster still features major stadium acts including Imagine Dragons, The Chainsmokers, and The Script. Festival organizers have not yet clarified whether Larsson will be replaced or if the running order will be rearranged.
Turning down substantial paydays on ethical grounds is something Larsson has handled before. She previously revealed that she forfeited a three million dollar commercial contract, the largest endorsement offer of her career, after posting a joke referencing abortion on TikTok. She brushed off that loss without regret at the time. Her decision to pull out of the Yas Island date illustrates how direct pressure from listeners can prompt an artist to stop, take stock of the context surrounding a corporate booking, and step away.
