Outspoken British pop icon Sir Elton John was banned from performing at an upcoming private concert in Egypt, The Jerusalem Post reported Monday.
The 63-year-old singer, who is famously homosexual, was apparently barred from appearing at the May 18 show by the head of Egypt’s Musician Union, because of his “anti-religious sentiments.”
“How do we allow a gay, who wants to ban religions, claimed that the prophet Eissa (Jesus) was gay and calls for Middle Eastern countries to allow gays to have sexual freedom,” the head of the union, Mounir al Wasimi, was quoted as saying by German Press Agency DPA.
The multimillionaire star sparked controversy in February, when he commented that there was no tolerance for homosexuals in the Middle East.
“I don’t know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East — you’re as good as dead,” Sir Elton told U.S. news magazine Parade.
He also claimed Jesus was a “super-intelligent gay man” who “understood human problems.”
Al Wasimi said his union was the only organization “authorized to allow performances by foreign singers in Egypt.”