Mel C reveals she would turn down an offer to perform in Qatar

Mel C has revealed that she would turn down an offer to perform in Qatar, the host nation of the World Cup.

The singer, 48, said she “wouldn’t be comfortable” accepting money to take the stage in the Gulf state, due to its controversial human rights record.

This comes after David Beckham faced backlash over a £10 million deal to become an ambassador for Qatar’s World Cup despite controversy over the Arab country’s treatment of women, migrant workers and LGBT people.

Speaking out: Mel C has revealed she would turn down an offer to perform in World Cup host nation Qatar (pictured in February)

Mel, whose bandmate Victoria is married to former footballer David, told The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden: ‘Personally, I’m an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and it’s not something I would be comfortable with.

“People want to go there and help make a change. To each his own, but it would be a no from me if the offer came.’

This comes after Dua Lipa denied speculation she would perform at the World Cup opening ceremony, which took place on Sunday.

Drama: The singer said she ‘wouldn’t be comfortable’ accepting money to take the stage in the Gulf state, following the controversial £10million deal with David Beckham

Just a week before the football tournament was due to start, Dua took to Instagram Stories to quell the rumors and lash out at Qatar for its human rights record.

She wrote: “There is a lot of speculation that I will perform at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar.

“I will not perform and I have never been involved in any negotiations to perform.

“I will be cheering for England from a distance and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.”

She signed off: ‘One love, Dua x’

Denial: This comes after Dua Lipa denied speculation she would perform at the World Cup opening ceremony

Qatar has come under increasing criticism over its treatment of women, migrant workers and LGBT people.

The first concern is the contractual terms for hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who are being used to turn the small emirate into a region that can host the biggest football tournament.

It remains to be seen how much time World Cup broadcasters will spend highlighting the allegations against the Qatari government, including The Guardian’s 2013 claims that workers were denied food, water and had their passports taken away.

Some claim they were not paid, or if they were, the payments were minimal and should have been long overdue. A 2019 Daily Mirror study found that 28,000 workers were paid about $1 an hour over a 48-hour work week.

Having her say: The singer took to her Instagram Stories to dismiss the rumors and lashed out at Qatar for her human rights record

Most damning, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2015 that more than 1,200 workers died building the infrastructure for the tournament. Last year, The Guardian put that figure at nearly 6,500.

Qatar also punishes homosexuality with imprisonment and considers men to be the guardians of their female relatives.

It also has strict laws on alcohol, drugs, public intimacy, extra-marital relationships, dress code, and swearing.

Some campaigners have urged celebrities to boycott the World Cup, with Robbie Williams and David Beckham both facing criticism for associating with the competition.

Robbie was recently revealed as one of the music acts that will play at the Qatar Live concerts at a press conference in Doha.

Meanwhile, David agreed a £10 million deal to become ambassador for the country for a decade, which has led to him being the face of the 2022 World Cup.

Backlash: Qatar faces growing criticism over its treatment of women, migrant workers and LGBT people (FIFA President Gianni Infantino pictured)