Rihanna Agrees To Cover Up For Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The good girl gone bad has promised to be good for one night.

R&B sensation Rihanna will shun skimpy outfits when she performs in Malaysia next month, the concert's organizers said Tuesday, becoming the latest international star affected by the Muslim-majority country's strict rules on performers' dress.

Recent concerts by Gwen Stefani and Avril Lavigne faced protests by conservative Muslim Malaysians over immodest clothes. Stefani eventually made what she called "a major sacrifice" at her show by donning attire that revealed little skin.

Under government guidelines, a female performer must be covered from the top of her chest, including her shoulders, to her knees.

The organizers of a Pussycat Dolls concert in 2006 were fined nearly $3,000 after the U.S. girl group was accused of flouting decency regulations.

The Malaysian organizers of Rihanna's Feb. 13 stop on her "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour voiced hopes that protests would not mar the Grammy-winning singer's show.

Rihanna's management is "aware of the country's regulations and the difficulties of doing a show," Razman Razali, managing director of Pineapple Concerts, told The Associated Press.

However, a district branch of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, which blasted Lavigne's on-stage moves as "too sexy" last year, said in an online commentary that Rihanna was "sexier and more dangerous" than Lavigne.

Concert ticket Web site Axcess said sales for Rihanna's show in a 16,000-capacity Kuala Lumpur stadium were selling briskly Tuesday, just hours after newspapers announced the event.

Rihanna, 20, has had a slew of hits since bursting onto the music scene in 2005, including "Umbrella," "Pon de Replay" and "Unfaithful."

Comments

[TruthAndTheory]

I've never been to an Avril Lavigne concert, but I thought she was one of the more modestly-dressed singers! You never see her dressing like Britney or Mariah Carey!

[BruntLIVE]

Beyonce, Rianna and other light-skinned mixed females dazzling the word with their different looks.

[azcats11]

they arent mixed.
Beyonces parents are both black...or "creole" as she likes to put it and Rih is from Barbados.

people of African decent aren't one shade my friend.

[worldviewer]

Malaysia*

my apologies

[worldviewer]

i think some of the commenters here are reading an entirely different article from the one i just read...

It states that she DID agree to adhere to the strict dress code guidelines for her show in Malayshia... in case anyone missed the glaringly obvious headline at the top in bold ginormous letters...

[susou]

If you are the performer going into a country like Malaysia, you should damn well know of their customs and to be respectful.

Why loose a fan base because of slutty clothing that is ugly anyways?

What's wrong with a tshirt and pants for one night??

Is that worse than loosing money? C'mon, get over it... It's not like the clothing has an effect on the terrible music anyways.

[Grulg]

Rihanna's another Ashanti or Beyonce or Ciara, can't tell'em apart if you're not a fan or whatever. Her voice is so so, prob. won't be around forever, ummmm harmless as hell too.

[KatDawgATL]

Beyonce's a harder "worker" than all of those chics you named.

[AlligatorShuz]

Beyonce has a stronger voice and she is truly a preformer. Ashanti, Rihanna and Ciara can't sing that is why they wear skimpy cloths.

[azcats11]

if they all look alike to you, then all the the country singers look and sound alike to me.

u r dumb.

[robXdion]

She needs to agree to stop singing with the machine enhancement and move on so real talent can shine.

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

stiII ha.ting on ALL bIack women, again, huh robXdickhead?

[robXdion]

WOW!! Are you still foaming at the mouth trying to get me back? I've turned you into an animal of rage and anguish from merely typing. THAT'S the effect I have on you. You skipped over the 2 other negative comments about her "talents" and made a beeline to mine because I-own-your-mind.

So how does it feel to be my puppet with a constantly raised adrenaline and anxiety? And Rihanna represents ALL black women? When did that law get passed? You can't be too old or mature to keep this up. It's obvious you're a child barely past high school. Just get some counseling, OK? The help you need can't be found ranting at a man you've never met and can't shake up.

[NoSillyName]

It sure didn't take her long to go from Sweet Island Girl to Barely Clothed Hooch.

[angry expat]

Female sexuality, seductiveness and charm - and the wide range of sometimes baffling reactions they provoke - make women ultimately more powerful than men. Why else would lil' old Rhianna be labeled as "dangerous"?

It's not Islam that's the problem, it's the zealots...we have some of our own here in the USA and they certainly aren't Muslim either.

Can we ban Miley Rae Cyrus as a gesture of cultural understanding toward Malaysia?

[harriettubman]

This is the problem with people who lack cultural competency. You can't just go to another country and dress or talk as you please, especially Muslim countries. Even American female soldiers must adhere to the dress in Islamic countries and so does Barbara Walters when she does an interview.

These countries are not forcing anything on the celebrity, just requesting them to adhere to their beliefs. If they don't want to, don't travel to that area.

[azcats11]

sorry sister. now why dont you go back to the convent now. keep going........

[Tatiana]

RI, just don't go there! They're forcing you to give up some of your artistic integrity.

[rasthedestroyer]

what integrity... she's a studio creation.... she's a gimmick @ best..