Zara Larsson has indicated she canceled her December 3 appearance at the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after initially announcing her withdrawal, then deleting that note and sharing a more detailed explanation about why the show no longer felt right for her.
The Swedish vocalist had been scheduled to perform at Etihad Live on Yas Island as part of the Yasalam After-Race Concerts, with Zara and Lewis Capaldi lined up to open the weekend’s events. However, fans urged her to reconsider the appearance, pointing to concerns about the United Arab Emirates’ alleged connections to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group accused of serious abuses during the country’s civil conflict.
One supporter wrote: “Please educate yourself about what UAE is doing to Sudan and then cancel your Abu Dhabi show.” Zara replied: “I won’t be going to Abu Dhabi.” Yet, followers later noticed the posts had disappeared.
She subsequently explained that she had been reflecting on what performing in certain countries means for her as an artist.
The Midnight Sun singer stated: “I think about that a lot in my life as an artist… I want to perform and share joy and music with people in every country, because no single person represents their government.”
“I’ve met so many wonderful people from every corner of the world and I know this to be true in my heart. I love people, and I love my fans so much.”
Zara acknowledged that her earlier reply “may have come across as an impulsive response,” but after taking time to deliberate on the booking, she now feels stepping away is the choice that “aligns with me the most right now, for a variety of personal reasons beyond politics.”
She added: “Maybe I’ll delete both comments and issue a more complete statement soon. I look forward to singing with you in a beautiful future.”
