A luxury hotel in northern Cyprus has threatened to sue pop star Jennifer Lopez for $40m (£27m) after she cancelled a gig there for “political” reasons.
But newspapers in the Turkish-occupied territory said the hotel owner has offered J.Lo an olive branch, saying there is still time to reverse her decision.
The singer had been due to perform on July 24 at the Cratos Premium hotel and casino complex – but the booking outraged Greek Cypriots in the south of the island nation.
They claimed that performing in the disputed north would be tantamount to making a political statement and the singer was deluged with thousands of letters of protest.
A Facebook site against the concert signed up almost 20,000 members within a week.
In backing out of the concert, a spokesperson for J.Lo told celebrity gossip website TMZ: “Jennifer Lopez would never knowingly support any state, country, institution or regime that was associated with any form of human rights abuse.
“After a full review of the relevant circumstances in Cyprus, it was the decision of management to withdraw from the appearance. This was a team decision that reflects our sensitivity to the political realities of the region.”
Yet Feza Firat, whose Istanbul-based F&F Agency represents the Cratos hotel, claims Lopez had been “led to believe there was a war going on”.
Mr Firat went on to say the singer’s fee had already been paid.
The US-based American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association claimed the concert would “lend credence to an illegal entity recognised only by Turkey”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey occupied the north to try and stop Nicosia uniting with Greece.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognised by Turkey and has been a significant political barrier to Turkey being allowed to join the EU.
The SkyNews
Reports that Lopez would perform at a luxury hotel in the north on her 41st birthday this month triggered a Greek Cypriot online campaign pushing for cancellation.
NICOSIA, Cyprus — Jennifer Lopez has stepped into a diplomatic minefield by agreeing to perform in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, stirring anger among thousands of Greek Cypriots.