Malaysia has banned a scheduled concert by Erykah Badu after seeing a photograph of the singer with the Arabic word for Allah written on her body. The writing seems to be a temporary tattoo.
According to The Associated Press, she was set to perform Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur , but several of the country’s Muslim groups have deemed Badu as an “unsuitable role model for young Malaysians” after seeing the photo. Malaysia is 60 percent Muslim.
Not wanting to negatively affect its image, a government committee backed the groups’ sentiments calling the writing “an insult to Islam and a very serious offense.”
Badu, who celebrated her 41st birthday Sunday, had already arrived in Malaysia and has been granted permission to stay despite the cancelled concert. A managing director for the show says the ”Tyrone” singer is “worried and dismayed” over the controversy.