Celebrities Who Entertain Dictators

A-listers who sold their souls to the devil

1. Jennifer Lopez for Dictator of Turkmenistan

Human Rights Foundation / Via humanrightsfoundation.org

J-Lo earned $1.5 million for performing at a birthday concert for the dictator of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

Berdimuhamedow has a long history of abusing human rights and denying citizens of Turkmenistan the right to free expression.

Heard of Google, J-Lo? When her action received bad press, her spokesperson Mark Young told CNN: “Had there been knowledge of human right issues of any kind, Jennifer would not have attended.”

2. Kanye West for Kazakh Despot

Human Rights Foundation / Via humanrightsfoundation.org

Kanye earned $3 million for performing at the wedding of the grandson of Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Kazakhstan is one of the most censored countries in the world. Thor Halvorssen, the President of Human Rights Foundation, said entertainers like Kanye would be imprisoned in Kazakhstan for simply expressing their views.

Despite the bad press, Kanye hasn't issued a public response for his action.

3. Mariah Carey for Angolan Dictator

Human Rights Foundation / Via humanrightsfoundation.org

Mariah earned $1 million at a "charity" gala attended by the brutal dictator of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos.

Her manager Jermaine Dupri admitted that he didn't research Angola before booking the performance. In 2008 Mariah was among the celebrities who performed for the former dictator of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi (he's now dead).

"You can’t make the same mistake twice, the second time you make it, it’s a choice"

4. Hilary Swank for Chechen Tyrant

Human Rights Foundation / Via humanrightsfoundation.org

Hillary Swank earned $500,000 for attending the birthday party of Ramzan Kadyrov, the president of Chechnya.

His regime is notorious for extrajudicial killings, torture and other horrendous human rights abuses. Other high profile celebrities like Shakira and Eva Mendes were also invited to the birthday bash, but declined to attend after receiving a warning from the Human Rights Foundation about the Chechen president's human rights record. The memo was also delivered to Swank but she ignored it and attended anyway.

When her action received bad press...

she issued a public apology and stated that she didn't do her research before accepting the invitation.

5. Erykah Badu for Swazi Kleptocrat

Human Rights Foundation / Via humanrightsfoundation.org

Erykah Badu performed at the birthday celebration of Swaziland’s King Mswati III, meanwhile political prisoners languished in a detention center near the palace.

When her action received bad press...

Badu said that she went into the situation not knowing the political climate of the country.