
SINGER Akon’s concert, scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed to Oct 24. The postponement is not because of its conflicting sponsorship, as reported recently by an English daily.
According to the paper, the decision was made as the concert’s main sponsor, a well-known liquor brand, was seen as inappropriate as the sponsor for the Muslim hip-hop artiste’s concert.On Monday, the concert’s organiser, Marctensia of the Akon Freedom Beach Concert 09, issued an official statement.“His manager Mateo called us on Sunday morning to say that Akon decided to postpone both his concerts in Kuala Lumpur and Manila (on Saturday) due to family matters,” said Marctensia marketing and communications head Michael Chan.
The concert’s venue, scheduled to be at Surf @ Sunway Lagoon, will remain unchanged.On the report by the English daily, Chan said that no one called him or anyone else from his company for any clarification.“We have even received the letter of approval from the Central Agency for the Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes,” he said with regards to the claim made by the paper.
The liquor brand will still continue its sponsorship for the singer’s concert in October as confirmed by its representative, TBWA Malaysia public relations manager Eric Lim.
The Senegal singer, who suffered a massive backlash due to his inappropriate conduct with an underaged member of the audience during his performance in a club in Trinidad and Tobago, appeared in a 20-second video during the press conference apologising to his Malaysian fans.“I am sorry for the postponement. One thing is for sure, I will be coming on Oct 24 to entertain you,” said Akon in the clip.Current tickets are still valid for the October concert.
Tickets can also be refunded from July 6 to 18 at Axcess Office, 1st Floor, Block A, Lot 116, Jalan Semangat, Petaling Jaya.
Source:nst.com