Selena Gomez Denied Work Visa, Cancels Russian Concerts

Selena Gomez canceled her upcoming Russian concerts after immigration officials rejected her application for a work visa.

The 21-year-old “Slow Down” singer had two performances scheduled for next week, one in St. Petersburg on Monday and another in Moscow on Wednesday.

According to the Moscow Times, the visa denial came after the government “tightened the visa regime for foreign musicians” after Madonna and Lady Gaga supported gays during their Russian concerts last year. Conservatives tried to file lawsuits against the singers in the spirit of the country’s anti-gay legislation, which bans the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.”

Earlier this month, Petersburg Music Industry head Yevgeny Finkelshtein said the law will discourage other artists from performing in the country.

“Not a single person is going to visit us if the Prosecutor General’s Office starts disputing something or looking for guilty parties,” he said.

So far, it is unclear whether refunds will be issued for the canceled concerts.

While many celebrities are boycotting Russia in the wake of its new anti-gay legislation, gays rights activist John Becker started a Change.org petition for Selena Gomez to voice her support of the LGBT community in Russia.

“Selena Gomez knows all too well what it’s like to be bullied, and as an international pop star she has a unique platform – and a special obligation – to join other celebrities like Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Cher in speaking out against the Russian government’s bullying of LGBT people,” Becker wrote in the petition. “By speaking out, Selena can let LGBT folks in Russia know that we stand with them, and that they are not alone.”

Becker told WENN, “This cancellation of Selena Gomez’s visa shows that the Russian government is sensitive and on the defense, and shows that the pressure from people all around the world and the backlash against these laws is strong.”

He added, “They’re afraid to have someone like Selena Gomez come in and potentially use her platform to advance LGBT rights.”

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