I am amazed at the hypocrisy of the international media’s attack on Beyonce for her performance at Nikki Beach in St. Barts over the holidays. While I personally do not have any business dealings with Libya, Muammar al-Qaddafi or his family, Libya is a state recognized by the current and previous US administrations and is now crawling with new investments from so called “blue-chip” US execs and corporations with the encouragement of our State Department. Why is the media not calling out the famous CEOs who were at the event and invested with the family and in the country instead of demonizing the evening’s entertainment? I in no way forget the events of 21 years ago, and also understand that recent events have opened up many old wounds. But I must point out that the rash of Islamophobic words and images directed at a singer are deeply hypocritical in light of US policy and corporate activity designed to bring Libya into the world community.
-Russell Simmons
