Kanye West performs for Kazakh dictator at grandson's wedding
Questions are being raised about Kanye West's performance at a high-profile gig in Kazakhstan over the weekend.
The 36-year-old "Black Skinhead"rapper delivered a set Saturday at the wedding reception for the grandson of Kazakh dictator Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been accused of multiple human rights abuses during his 23-year-reign over the former Soviet state.
West, who also recently performed at the MTV VMAs, was personally asked by Mr. Nazarbayev to make an appearance at his grandson's reception, and reportedly netted $3 million for the gig, according to BuzzFeed.
The rapper's performance was revealed after several guests posted images and video from the bash on sites, including Instagram:
Over the years, human rights activists have been fierce in their condemnation of Nazarbayev, who has faced international protests for his autocratic rule over the Central Asia nation.
Organizations like the U.S. State Department have listed human rights abuses commonly found in Kazakhstan, including limited freedom of speech, arbitrary arrests by the government and human trafficking.
In 2011, singer Sting publicly declined an invitation to perform in Kazakhstan, citing the alleged government repression of striking workers.
Other high-profile entertainers have faced criticisms in the past for performing at events hosted by dictators. 50 Cent, Beyonce, Usher and Nelly Furtado, for example, all came under fire after they were connected to parties held by the family of former Libyan ruler Muammar al Qaddafi.
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