Lady Gaga's self-indulgent speeches test fans

Lady Gaga's self-indulgent speeches test fans and spoil show's potential for thrills

HALLOWEEN ARRIVED early in Dublin on Saturday as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, aka Lady Gaga, rolled into town with her Born This Way Ball Tour.

Monsters, freaks, masked marauders and painted spooks as well as burger vendors, hat sellers and glowstick merchants converged on the Aviva Stadium for a gawk at Lady Gaga. They got what they came for, as Gaga had a lot on display. Sometimes too much.

The songs Highway Unicorn, Government Hooker and Born This Way featured early, visually complemented by simulated oral sex, masturbation and Gaga’s emergence through a zipper between the splayed legs of a blow-up doll. It was difficult to imagine what could come next.

It quickly became apparent that, beyond the ability to shock those of a sensitive or sexually conservative disposition, Gaga had little of appeal left in her arsenal. With a set constructed along the lines of a castle (with Gaga as queen), the two-hour show was little more than a series of staged set pieces, with each song getting its own makeover, costumes, dance routines and, as the evening wore on, lengthier, patience-sapping speeches from the singer.

It was this parade of queasy self-importance that at times pushed even more tolerant fans into bad temper. If you removed the speechifying (all of which was of the “I am you . . . We share the same hopes and dreams . . . We are love, unity and togetherness . . .” variety, and all of which she repeats a variant of at every show) and the amount of time it took from the end of one song to the start of the next, a rough estimate would be a show of 75-80 minutes. Not much bang for your buck, is it?

While we get the need for Gaga’s messages of equality and tolerance, there comes a point where their repetitive nature threatens to kill the show’s potential for thrills. In such an arena show, pacing is all, and here it staggers, leaving brilliant tunes such as Poker Face, Bad Romance, Born This Way, The Edge of Glory and Paparazzi in the lurch.

Which is a pity, as the likes of Lady Gaga are necessary for shaking things up. It seems, however, that Ms Germanotta has gotten into the habit of celebrating ego-gratification and self-indulgence – rather than the art of just getting on with it.

Lady Gaga is the only true new star

Musicians in today’s rock bands look like “garbage collectors” and the only true new star is Lady Gaga, members of the legendary heavy metal group KISS said.

“There are a lot of bands that have something. What’s missing is stardom. The ability to get up on stage and rule, bigger than life,” said KISS bassist and singer-songwriter Gene Simmons.

In a conversation during a promotional appearance on Tuesday for the KISS Monster Book, the band explained their decision to record their next disc, Monster, with analogue equipment.

They also defended the Russian punk band Pussy Riot, whose members were sentenced to prison last week in Moscow.

“There are no stars. There’s no Elvis, there’s no... even Prince,” said Simmons. “Stage presence — none of the bands have it, they look like garbage collectors. They look worse than the audience that comes to see them.

“There’s no pride,” said the 62-year-old, who is known for his own on-stage persona as “The Demon” in a band that flaunts over-the-top costumes and black-and-white make-up.

KISS’s four band members spoke to reporters in The Viper Room, a renowned Hollywood bar where the actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose in 1993.

Dressed in black, without makeup, in silver neck chains and long hair, the creators of rock hymns like I Wanna Rock N Roll All Night and I Was Made for Lovin’ You agreed the extravagant Lady Gaga stands alone among new performers.

“The only new rock star is Lady Gaga. That’s it. She’s a star,” said Simmons, in white crocodile skin cowboy boots and a silk scarf. “There are some very, very good bands, I’m a big fan of Foo Fighters, but give me the stars.”

It’s not just about the show, he said. “Elvis could walk up on stage with nothing. But charisma. Image. Mystique.”

Paul Stanley, the group’s star and lead vocalist, went further.

“Musicians who look like the delivery boy... don’t realise that there’s more. When big bands go on stage, they deliver their goods,” he said.

“That’s why we’ve been around 40 years, because people know when they come to see us, they’re going to get their money’s worth and they’re going to be entertained. We are proud to be entertainers and a hell of a rock band.”

Stanley, who was wearing a black jacket and checker-board shoes with silver studs, and Simmons are the last members of the original KISS, which they formed in the early 1970s.

Lead guitarist Tommy Taylor and drummer Eric Singer were brought in later as replacements after a break-up in the original line-up.

Asked about the Pussy Riot furore in Russia, Simmons said they’re “not a good band, but they have the right to do whatever they want to do”.

“And it’s too bad that politics gets in the way of rock bands.”

Stanley said: “A strong country should never be afraid of freedom. And with freedom comes independence, a sense of independence, and many countries still want to squash that.”

The band is promoting its megabook as a collector’s item. A limited edition of 1,000 copies, it is individually signed by the band’s members and spans KISS’s 40 year history. It includes 127 photographs, some never published before.

The affable rockers, who showed little trace of the fearsome personas they project on stage, said they are recording their next album using analogue equipment, seeking beauty in imperfection.

Monster, their 20th studio album, is scheduled to be released in October.

“All the greatest music that was ever made, was made on tape, was analogue. The problem with computers and technology is, when it’s not used for enhancement, it becomes a noose around your neck,” Stanley said.

“You wind up looking for perfection instead of passion. And all the music that we grew up loving — Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Stones, James Brown, Motown, you name it — none of them were perfect, and that’s what made them great.”

 

Lady Gaga vs. Miley Cyrus

Lady Gaga vs. Miley Cyrus: Who’s More Fun to Follow on Twitter? – Readers Poll

 

Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus are two of pop music’s most active Twitter users, sharing an endless amount of awesome photos and constantly giving love to their fans. Both of these women utilize Twitter to its full potential, using the social networking site to make official announcements, connect with fans, and share advice with those who need it. So, out of Gaga and Miley, who is more fun to follow on Twitter?
Little monsters can basically follow Gaga’s every move thanks to Twitter, as she constantly updates them on her whereabouts and what she’s been doing. For example, earlier today, she wrote, “off to VIENNA! I’m so excited. Romania was a beautiful “little paris” and i can’t wait for the next city!” She also shared a picture that one of her loyal fans drew her, showering her listeners with words of affection by writing, “Check out amazing drawing! i love my fans.@LouisVuitton.”
Meanwhile, like Gaga, Miley Cyrus also gives her fans tons of love through Twitter. She also tweets photos of herself in her favorite outfits and shares pictures of her and soon-to-be hubby Liam Hemsworth chilling with their pack of dogs (seriously, they have A LOT of dogs). Earlier this week, Miley also shared some big news through Twitter after she cut all of hair off into a pixie ‘do.

 

Lady Gaga gets her hackles up in fur fight with PETA

 

Lady Gaga has famously worn outfits made of meat, so it's no surprise that she came out swinging after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals criticized her for appearing in fur. She wouldn't say whether the fur was faux or real, but she acknowledged a difference of opinion, saying in a statement to fans that she respects the views of animal rights supporters, but "I do not however support violent abusive and childish campaigns for ANY CAUSE."  The somewhat disjointed statement -- "You see a carcass; I see a museum piece de resistance" -- ended on a note of support for another PETA target: "And Kim Kardashian is fabulous."
If you thought the most important thing about new Republican vice presidential contender Paul D. Ryan was his political viewpoint, you're wrong. Style commentators from all around the blogosphere -- including those from Esquire, WWD, the New York Times and more -- have been sizing him up based on his clothes. Words like "rumpled," "dad pants," "oversized" are popping up. And from WWD: "Believe it or not, he's wearing square-toe dress shoes, one of the most grievous mistakes a man can make." But there's a good motivation behind it all. Most think he is a good-looking man who should show off his assets in better style.
"Project Runway's" Heidi Klum wore a one-sleeved leopard-print dress by Michael Kors and Alaïa sandals to the NYC-launch Wednesday of her new line of merchandise for Babies R Us. The line includes clothes, bedding and baby gear such as strollers.
Customs agents at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have seized more than 20,000 pairs of fake Louboutins over the last month.
A bunch of British fashion and jewelry designers are collaborating to include Minnie Mouse in designs that will be showcased during the upcoming London Fashion Week in September, and then auctioned off on EBay to benefit the British Fashion Council/Bazaar Fashion Arts Foundation.

 

Eminem’s Lady Gaga

Eminem’s Lady Gaga And Kendrick Lamar Collaboration Not Happening

 

Thanks to a blurry twitpic from the studio, we were already looking forward to a likely collaboration between Lady Gaga and rising Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar (especially after their too-cute meet-cute at Pitchfork Festival). Now, not only is their collab really happening, it’s reportedly getting an extra dose of hip-hop power thanks to Eminem.
Speaking to MTV Rap Fix (according to Popdust), Eminem supposedly revealed that he, Gaga and Lamar have recorded a song together called “Street Lights”, a new tune that, according to Em, will “definitely” become a single.
Said Mathers to MTV RapFix (again, via Popdust):

“Yeah, I got this crazy record with Gaga and Kendrick for the upcoming LP”, Eminem told MTV Rapfix early Saturday morning. “Its called “Street Lights”, and its just a real upbeat record.”
When asked if the collaboration would be be released as a single, Em said, “Definitely. We don’t have a release date yet, but it’ll be after Slaughterhouse’s album.”

There’s no indication if “Street Lights” would be for Eminem’s upcoming solo album or Gaga’s forthcoming ARTPOP, but the “after Slaughterhouse’s album” comment seems to indicate that he is talking about his solo LP.
Last year, Eminem allegedly sparked some beef with Lady Gaga by dropping a (pretty lame) diss in his Bad Meets Evil song “A Kiss”: ”Tell Lady Gaga she can quit her job at the post office / She’s still a male lady” Em raps on the track.
The rapper later explained that he thinks Gaga is “dope” and “an incredible talent.” “That was one of them things where sometimes I get a joke in my head and I kinda want to share it with the world, you know what I’m saying,” he said of the rhyme. “So it was just one of them things man, and it’s you know it’s all in fun, it’s hip hop.”
Though we might’ve blinked at Eminem collaborating with Gaga if the MC was in the Slim Shady days of his career — anti-gay, anti-women, violence-promoting raps don’t really mesh well with an anti-bully advocate like Gaga — the rapper has softened up over his last few albums, and has happily teamed up with all sorts of pop regulars, such as Pink, Rihanna and Bruno Mars. Pairing up with Gaga isn’t much of a stretch. The pop gal we’d be absolutely shocked to see work with Eminem is Mariah Carey, especially after that whole “Obsessed” drama and the years-long fallout from their (non)relationship. Now that would be a jaw-dropping collaboration.

 

Lady Gaga goes vegetarian in Chicago

Lady Gaga goes vegetarian in Chicago, Lee DeWyze gets married, 'Man of Steel' teaser trailer debuts

Lady Gaga has ordered fried chicken at Table Fifty-Two and deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s during past visits to Chicago, but the “Born This Way” singer opted for vegetarian-friendly restaurants during last week’s stay in the city.
Gaga ordered the black bean burger (aka The Black Mamba) at Chicago Diner in the Lakeview neighborhood and had dinner at fellow vegetarian restaurant Karyn’s Cooked in River North Friday. She also picked up takeout from Karyn’s On Green in Greektown Wednesday. On July 16, Gaga was spotted at Whole Foods in the Gold Coast (via Kelli Zink).
It appears her taste for vegetarian food wasn't permanent. Gaga, who was spotted in New York Saturday, tweeted on Monday, "Hangover, :( help. Woke up cuddling my weave like a teddy bear and there's chicken and waffles in the bed. Need a gym and a salon."
Top secret: How secretive was director Christopher Nolan about “The Dark Knight Rises” script? Former “Rescue Me” actor Daniel Sunjata, who was raised in the Beverly neighborhood, didn’t know who exactly he would be playing when he accepted a role in the superhero sequel.
“I never saw the whole script,” Sunjata, who plays a Gotham City Special Forces operative, said over the phone Tuesday. “Only the pages my character was a part of. I was on a need-to-know basis. … I actually thought I might be a superhero. I did. (My hopes) weren’t completely dashed. I still got to share a set with Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman.”
Wild ending: Fans of NBC’s “Love in the Wild” will learn during Tuesday’s finale whether or not Gold Coast resident and Tribune employee Yanina Beccaria won the Jenny McCarthy-hosted reality show with her partner, Ken Barrington. The couple will compete against fellow contestants Benjamin Clark and Michelle Sacco for a trip around the world.
“Ken and I both tried our best to get to know each other and see if there was a connection while other cast members were trying to strategize right from the get-go to win a prize or stay as long as possible and get exposure on TV,” Beccaria, who works in advertising, said in an email Sunday. “These adventures are crafted so we get on each other’s nerves sometimes and our true colors come out. But we both knew how to make things work at the end of the day, fix things and apologize versus throwing in the towel and switching partners.”
On the record: "When I realized I could be 100 percent myself around her all of the time I knew I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life.” – Former “American Idol” champion and Mount Prospect native Lee DeWyze talks to People about model/actress Jonna Walsh, whom he married Saturday in Camarillo, Calif.
Heads up: Former Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz will DJ Chicago Gateway Green’s Green Tie Ball Sept. 15 at A. Finkl & Sons Co.
About this week: Rapper Pitbull will take part in a meet-and-greet Friday at the Walgreens flagship store (151 N. State Street). “Mr. 305” will be promoting his Voli Light Vokda line. … Oscar-nominated actress and New Trier High School alum Virginia Madsen will appear at Hollywood Palms Cinema in Naperville Friday and Sunday and Hollywood Blvd Cinema in Woodridge Saturday.
Sightings: “Glee’ actor Chris Colfer dined Friday at RPM Italian. … Jenny McCarthy hosted a Ciroc vodka-sponsored party Saturday on the rooftop of EnV apartments. Deerfield native Brian Merel, who can be seen competing on Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” catered the event. … "Twilight" actress Nikki Reed hosted a party sponsored by Samsung Galaxy S III Friday at Paris Club's upstairs club, Studio Paris. ... Former “Kate Plus 8” star Kate Gosselin and three-time Super Bowl champion Roger Craig ran the XSport Fitness Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicago mini-marathon Sunday at Grant Park. Former “Bachelor” star Andy Baldwin ran the half-marathon version of the race (he ran it in 1:38:22, in case you're wondering). ... The Blackhawks' Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Brandon Bollig were spotted Thursday at Sunda. Hossa, Bollig and teammates Jimmy Hayes, Corey Crawford and Nick Leddy hung out at The Underground later that night. Story of the Year band members partied at Underground Friday. ... Former "Top Chef" host Katie Lee attended the launch of Clos du Bois Winery's newest wine, Rouge, Wednesday at Maude's Liquor Bar.

 

Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation Partners

Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation Partners With Office Depot

 Office Depot is proud to announce a partnership with Born This Way Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, that is dedicated to empowering youth and inspiring bravery.
The partnership, kicking off during the back-to-school season, will provide students, parents, and teachers with insights and limited-edition products that support Born This Way Foundation's mission of helping to encourage today's youth to grow up feeling confident about their individuality.
"What I want to do is strike your nerve over and over again to get you talking so that you can be a part of this message that will change everything," said Lady Gaga while speaking at the Born This Way Foundation launch event held at Harvard University.
To help spread this message, Office Depot and Born This Way Foundation have created several special, limited-edition products for back-to-school this year.
Custom products include empowerment gift cards (with a face value of $20), with one of six messages on the front: "Be Brave," "Be Amazing," "Be Yourself," "Be Kind," "Be Accepting" and "Be Involved." Parents, students, and teachers can use the $20 gift card to purchase incredible back-to-school essentials at Office Depot, and afterwards can proudly clip their cards to their backpack or belt loop showing their support of the movement.
Also available will be limited-edition "Kindness Sticks" Post-It® Notes, limited-edition Sharpie® pens, and unique "Bravery Bracelets," each of which feature Born This Way Foundation's logo, as well as the same six messages of empowerment as the gift cards.
All products are available exclusively at Office Depot, both in retail stores and online at www.officedepot.com and www.facebook.com/officedepot. Office Depot will donate 25 percent of the sales of these limited edition products directly to Born This Way Foundation, with a guaranteed donation of $1 million this year.
"Office Depot is a place that brings together students as well as their families and teachers, who play such an important role in inspiring and supporting today's youth," said Cynthia Germanotta, President and Co-Founder of Born This Way Foundation and Gaga's mama. Mama G! <3 her!
Will you nab some of the Post-Its and Sharpies?

Lady Gaga steps out in platform boots

Lady Gaga steps out in platform boots and fur as she goes sightseeing in Sydney

When most tourists go sightseeing they tend to blend in with the crowd, but not Lady Gaga.
The 26-year-old singer was spotted out and about in Sydney today dressed in her usual eccentric style as she took a break from performing.
Wearing her trademark platform boots and large white sunglasses, Gaga headed down the wharf to board a boat for a Sydney Harbour cruise.

She teamed her towering heels with a pair of white leggings and an off-the-shoulder cream jumper.
Despite it being winter Down Under, the Born This Way singer clearly wasn't bothered about showing off some flesh but she did carry a light-coloured fur garment over her arm just in case she began to feel the cold.

As she emerged from her hotel with her blonde hair pulled up into a beehive, Gaga was surrounded by a small team who ensured that she didn't tumble in her extremely high boots.
As she made her way to the boat, the U.S. star was followed by eager fans who snapped away and no doubt asked for her autograph.

Gaga was clearly enjoying her day off from her Born This Way Ball tour which has seen her play four nights in Sydney.
The singer was beaming from ear to ear as she relaxed on the boat with her friends and enjoyed a drink.
Gaga was no doubt feeling grateful for the break before she heads to Melbourne where she will play five shows at the Rod Laver Arena.

Lady Gaga in soup over Bangkok concert

First she made a joke about buying a fake rolex. Now Thailand's culture ministry has filed a complaint to police against Lady Gaga for misuse of the Thai flag during her show last month.
"We are not asking police to prosecute her but it's our normal procedure to file complaints to concerned agencies when we receive them," a senior ministry official, who declined to be named, said by telephone.
The ministry said the part of Lady Gaga's performance when she wore a traditional headdress and sat on  motorcycle in a skimpy outfit with a Thai flag trailing behind was "inappropriate and hurt Thai people's sentiment."
 the ministry noted that the Thai national flag consisted of three colours -- red for the nation, blue for the revered monarchy and white for religion.
Gaga caused a stir soon after her arrival in Thailand last month by tweeting that "I wanna get lost in a lady market and buy fake Rolex," remarks that some Thais complained cast the kingdom in a negative light.
About 50,000 people attended her concert in Bangkok, which was part of a tour that sparked protests from religious hardliners in Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea.

Lady Gaga challenges Britney Spears

Lady Gaga addressed a crowd of her devote fans and said she was better than Britney Spears because she was six years younger and Spears looked like an old lady.

During a concert Britney Spears retaliated against Gaga by saying that Gaga is not European because she looks Arabic and her ancestors came from the middle east. Spears compared her nose as being authentic European because it was small and pointed up while Gaga's nose was long and pointed down like a Jew.
In a rage Gaga accused Spears of being a lesbian because she kissed Madonna and argues that Spears should not be around small girls because she can't be trusted. Gaga said that Spear's clothing smells like an old person's clothing.
In a rage Gaga accused Spears of being a lesbian because she kissed Madonna and argues that Spears should not be around small girls because she can't be trusted. Gaga said that Spear's clothing smells like an old person's clothing.

At a concert Lady Gaga invited all of Spear's fans to become her fans because Spears never dated a black man and was a fake wannabe Barbie Doll. "I'm everything to everyone because I'm a girl of the people and I'm for the people." said Gaga.

Gaga or Britney Spears will be 2012's ruling diva. Many observes said it was a toss-up while others predicted that Gaga has a strong chance of taking the lead if she comes out with great songs that have perfect melodies.

During an interview Justin Beiber was asked if he would endorse Gaga or Spears as the reign queen of music in 2012. Beiber said he would endorse Gaga because she looks like a doll and sings great. He argues that Spears is too artificial and she is not part of the rainbow collision.

Paris Hilton also endorsed Lady Gaga, saying she adores shopping in Milan, Italy. "Lesbians are only good for one thing," said Hilton.

A poll was taken to forecast whether Spears will be the reigning diva in 2012. More than 80 percent of the vote went to Gaga. A different poll was taken to see if Justin Beiber's endorsement made any difference. 60 percent of the fans said they voted for Gaga based on what Justin Beiber said. It appears that Gaga is the most popular woman on the planet and other entertainers are supporting her rather than Spears.

The battle between Spears and Gaga will rage on for many years to come, or until a new female, teen sensation comes along and replaces both of them.

lady gaga in Indonesia

For Lady Gaga’s Indonesian fans, Sunday was a day of mourning. For the country’s 240 million citizens, most of them Muslim, it was the culmination of weeks of debate over whether Islamist hardliners are gaining ground in Indonesia.

Related stories

• 

  In Pictures: Lady Gaga's fans and foes
• The sacred and the profane: Indonesian churches and Lady Gaga
• Why Lady Gaga Indonesia concert may be canceled

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Why Lady Gaga concert was cancelled in Indonesia

Lady Gaga cancelled her sold-out concert in Jakarta, the biggest on her Asia tour, Sunday due to threats from a group of Islamists who call the American pop star a “devil worshiper” and complained that her style and dance moves are pornographic.
The Lady Gaga saga is one of many incidents recently, where Islamist groups have threatened or used violence against what they say are attempts to destroy Indonesia’s religious and moral fabric. Some worry recent events could mark a resurgence of violent Islamist activism that could ultimately threaten the democratic gains Indonesia has made since the end of the Soeharto dictatorship in 1998.
“This is part of the dilemma of the transition to democracy,” says Ulil Abshar Abdalla, head of the department for policy studies within the ruling Democrat Party. “On one hand we have the phenomena of rising intolerance, and on the other hand we have a weak government unable to address this issue.”

 GALLERY: Lady Gaga's fans and foes

Indonesia is a secular state and has made strides by allowing much greater freedom of speech and expression since the end of Soeharto's rein.
In the years following Soeharto's ouster, Indonesia was wracked by sectarian violence, separatist movements, and Al Qaeda-style terror attacks like the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed more than 200 people. But by the middle of the past decade, Indonesia's transitional crisis had cooled. Militant groups were on the run, and emerging democratic institutions were finding ways to mitigate communal conflicts that earlier had been flaring into violence.
But this month, Islamist hardliners led by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) have been throwing their weight around. They injured several people attending an event by Irshad Manji, a Canadian proponent of liberal Islam and a lesbian.  On May 6 protestors in a Jakarta suburb launched stones and death threats to disperse Protestant worshipers forced to pray on the sidewalk since local authorities stopped construction of their church in 2010.
The FPI has a long reputation of vandalizing bars and nightclubs for selling alcohol. It has also violently attacked Christian worshipers and smaller Muslim sects, namely the Ahmadiyah, a group persecuted in many majority-Muslim countries as heretical for not believing that Muhammad was the last prophet.
Rights activists accuse the police of turning a blind eye, allowing the FPI to act with impunity.
“The police over the past decade have basically tolerated the FPI and others, allowing them to grow,” says Andreas Harsono, a researcher with Human Rights Watch Indonesia.

Lady Gaga cancels Indonesian show after threats

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Lady Gaga canceled her sold-out show in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt the youth.
The controversy was a blow to the predominantly Muslim country’s reputation for combining free speech and democracy with a mostly moderate brand of the faith.
Fans were devastated, despite the promoter’s offer of full refunds. Some accused police — who refused to issue a permit over concerns about security — of buckling to the will of a small group of thugs.
The planned “Born This Way Ball” concert has been on-again-off-again from the start.
But on Sunday, it was final, said Minola Sebayang, a lawyer for Big Daddy, the promoter of the June 3 show.
“It’s unfortunate,” he said. “But with threats if the concert goes ahead, Lady Gaga’s side is calling it off. This is not only about Lady Gaga’s security, but extends to those who will be watching her.”
Indonesia, a secular nation of 240 million, is often held up by the U.S. and others an example of how democracy and Islam and can coexist. In many ways they are right. Since emerging from dictatorship just over a decade ago, sweeping reforms have resulted in direct elections, while vastly improving human rights and freeing up the media.
But a small extremist fringe has become more vocal — and violent — in recent years, attacking Christians and members of other religious minorities, transvestites, atheists and anyone else deemed immoral.
The most notorious group, Islamic Defenders Front, called Lady Gaga a “messenger of the devil” and vowed to turn out at the airport by the thousands if she tried to step off the plane. Others said they bought tickets so they could wreak havoc from inside the 52,000-seat stadium in the capital, Jakarta.
Police responded by denying the necessary permits. Then, after public outcry, they said they’d reconsider — but only if Lady Gaga agreed to tone down her act.
Instead, she pulled the plug on what was supposed to be the biggest stop on her Asian tour.
Michael Rusli, head of Big Daddy, promised “Little Monster” fans full refunds.
But that provided little consolation to people like 25-year-old Johnny Purba.
“This only shows to the world how weak security forces are in this country, how police are afraid of a bunch of hard-liners,” he said.
“Gaga’s two-hour show will not hurt Indonesian Muslims. For God’s sake, she is not a terrorist!”
Around 50 others, dressed up like the pop diva, performed a mob flash dance at a shopping mall in Jakarta to some of her biggest hits.
Hard-liners, however, were ecstatic.
“This is a victory for Indonesian Muslims,” said Salim Alatas, one of the leaders of the Islamic Defenders Front. “Thanks to God for protecting us from a kind of devil.”
Earlier, Murhali Barda, a spokesman for the group, said supporters had purchased more than 150 tickets to the concert.
He posted a picture on his Facebook page of a man hiding his identity with a turban and sunglasses and holding a $50 ticket to the “Ball.”
“We have gotten Lady Gaga tickets,” the caption said. “Not to watch but for us to enter.”
“Our target is to stop the concert,” he wrote, providing little more detail. “We would force them off the stage but not harm the audience.”