“I will stand by you.” These are the words Dua Lipa used to praise and show her support for fans who were forcibly removed from her Shanghai concert last week.
On September 12, Lipa took the stage at the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center, prepared to give her Chinese fans a show that they would never forget. During her set, fans stood up to dance, which was reportedly not allowed at this particular concert due to safety reasons, and waved pride flags high up in the air. When this act was witnessed by venue security, the concert-goers were aggressively pulled out of their seats, dragged out of the building, and further harassed.
Numerous videos of the incident surfaced online shortly after it happened.
At Dua Lipa’s show in Shanghai, China fans were violently dragged out by security for standing up at their seats and waving rainbow flags.
It’s 2018,
This is not okay.
We all need to stand up now, refuse to accept this treatment and make a change. pic.twitter.com/ii4EnCfEwf— Dua Lipa (@DuaLipaIRL) September 12, 2018
At Dua Lipa’s tour in Shanghai, secrity forbids fans to stand up(or waving🏳️🌈flag), which doesn’t make any sense. They brutally DRAGGED those who stood during songs!!Some were even being taken away in a more forceful manner. EVEN DUA WAS CRYING!!! HOW IS THIS HAPPENING !!😭 pic.twitter.com/pWdxA06aSN
— 👻 (@8102Delta) September 12, 2018
Lipa was noticeably shaken, having witnessed the incident from the stage, and addressed the audience while fighting back tears. “I want to create a safe environment for us all to have fun,” she said.
Dua Lipa Cried In Shanghai China Tonight pic.twitter.com/Tz17SRGpiH
— Liability (@958353005) September 12, 2018
Lipa later put out a statement commending her fans for bravely displaying their pride, and adding that she always wants her music to bring “strength, hope, and unity.” She pledged to return to Shanghai and “hopefully see a room full of rainbows.”
Shanghai ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mxLHxj2Y3y
— DUA LIPA (@DUALIPA) September 13, 2018
This is an upsetting, yet all too real example of the persecution and marginalization the Chinese LGBT community reportedly faces daily. Although homosexuality was decriminalized in 2001, incidents like this are one of the reasons many Western acts avoid touring through China. For many artists, the increased security and cultural censorship doesn’t allow them to give fans the concert experience they want, and in this case, can lead to safety issues.
We are happy that Dua has shown her unconditional love and support for her Chinese fans and we hope that her vision of a room full of rainbows will one day come true. For now, we send our love to Dua and her fans all over the world.
Featured Image: Instagram (@dualipa)
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