Rihanna cancels concert over security fears

U.S. pop star Rihanna’s Jakarta concert has been canceled for security reasons, the event promoter said Thursday.

“I talked to her tour managers in Singapore yesterday (Wednesday) and they insisted on postponing the concert,” promoter Willy Hidayat told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview.

He said he was told by Rihanna’s management team Tuesday that they had become concerned about security in Jakarta after the Australian government updated its travel warning on Indonesia following the executions of the three Bali bombers on Sunday.

The Grammy Award-winning singer, whose popular hits include “Umbrella”, “Take A Bow”, “Hate That I Love You” and “Don’t Stop the Music”, performed in Australia before leaving for Singapore. She was then scheduled to continue her tour in Jakarta.

“I have tried to convince them that Jakarta is safe and we will provide tight security but they said they could not ignore the warning,” said the promoter, who successfully brought U.S. punk rock band Sum 41 to Jakarta in May.

The concert is expected to be postponed until early next year.

“We are still hoping that we can bring her here,” Willy said.

Laborious and costly preparations were underway for Friday’s concert, including the rental of a private jet to bring Rihanna from Singapore, along with a security unit on par with those used to escort state officials.

The cancellation of the concert is likely to mean losses worth billions of rupiah, but Willy declined to reveal the amount.

“The tickets were sold out,” he said, adding that all customers would be eligible for a full refund.

About 6,000 tickets, priced between Rp 750,000 (US$68) and Rp 2.5 million, had been sold.

Rihanna is the first artist to cancel a concert in Jakarta this year for security reasons.

4 Responses to “Rihanna cancels concert over security fears”

1. torenta says:

   November 14, 2008 at 9:17 AM

   poor girl she is great go on rihh and chriss u are the best couple ever i love ya and your amazing voices you rock
   CHRIS <3<3<3 RIHH<3<3<3<3
   ladys first oo please i LOVE U ROBBYN RIHANNA FENTY and CHRIS BROWN
2. jjj says:

   November 14, 2008 at 3:57 PM

   She did the right thing…
3. busra says:

   November 14, 2008 at 5:11 PM

   http://www.pcavote.com/pca/index.jsp

   http://fuse.tv/music/best-of-2008/

   Congrats to Rihanna on her People’s Choice Award nominations:

   Favorite Female Singer
   Favorite R&B Song for “Take A Bow” by Rihanna
   Favorite Pop Song for “Disturbia” by Rihanna
   Favorite Star 35 & Under

   Please vote everyday and tell everyone to vote for rihanna so she can win the awards
4. christine d. says:

   November 17, 2008 at 6:31 AM

   their sooo great at the concert last night here in manila!!!! looove them!!
   rihanna soo gorgeous!! XD
   she said she’s coming back…=)