Lady Gaga arrives in Philippines amid protests
Singer accused of having 'a distorted view toward Jesus Christ'
Lady Gaga
Credit: AP Photo
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MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Pop singer Lady Gaga arrived in the Philippines on Saturday to cheers from fans and protests from young Christians calling for the cancellation of her upcoming concerts.
About 200 Christian young people marched in Manila for a second straight day, holding placards urging the singer to "respect our faith, stop the blasphemy."
The Biblemode Youth Philippines members plan to hold a vigil starting Sunday near the concert venue. They said they are offended by Lady Gaga's music, particularly her song "Judas," which they said mocks Jesus Christ.
But throngs of shrieking, camera-toting fans mobbed her, seeking her autograph as she walked into her hotel surrounded by bodyguards. She arrived in Manila late Saturday on a private jet.
Sold-out crowds and angry protests have followed Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Asian tour.
Fans younger than 18 were banned from concerts in South Korea over complaints her lyrics and costumes were too provocative, and she was denied a concert permit in Indonesia by police under pressure from Islamic hard-liners.
Riot police stopped Saturday's marchers about a kilometer (half a mile) away from the concert venue. Phalanxes of security guards stood on alert in front of the arena.
"She declared a distorted view toward Jesus Christ and for us Biblical Christians it is offensive," said Ruben Abante, a protest leader. "Her music and everything about her is different from what our values are."
Organizers from Ovation Productions said they respect the beliefs of critics but promised that the performances "will not pose a threat to their sense of morality and conduct."
Under Philippine law, people who offend race or religion can be sentenced to up to six years in prison, although no one has been convicted recently.
Copyright (2012) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Login or create a HitFix account Login Signupsabotkin
May 20, 2012 at 4:51AM EST Reply to CommentGod I despise religion! So sad 80-90 % of the world is brain-washed?!:(
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sabotkin
May 20, 2012 at 4:57AM EST Reply to CommentGod I despise religion! And people who stop free speech!! So sad 80-90% of the world is brain-washed
sabotkin
May 20, 2012 at 5:03AM EST Reply to CommentAnd who cares about the philipines, its such a backwards, sespool. I've been there, its so nasty and dirty. I would'nt recomend ever going there unless you had to! Yuck!! :p
Roadshow Sabotkin,
May 20, 2012 at 7:13AM ESTI think your comments are out of line.
I am an atheist so I have some sympathy for your position on religion but everyone's beliefs should be respected and noone will be persuaded of your truth by insulting them.
As regards, the Philippines, I have never been there but I have travelled in other Asian countries and to descibe them as backwards or nasty is insulting and wrong.
They are much, much poorer than countries in the west but that does not equate to backwards.
They're simply further back on the continuum of development all countries are travelling.
All that said, I totally agree with you that noone should be allowed to stop free speech but that includes the protestors too.
choi ollirac I care,you dumbass,how could you making that remark to other country particularly in phillippines,dont do to others what do unto you..just shut the hell up..no one is forcing you to comeback..if you dont like the place then dont..
May 20, 2012 at 8:22PM ESTjake don't blame the philippines -- your comments are offensive, people have blamed colton dixon on american idol for singing Bad Romance which led to his elimination because he's a christian singer. Personally, I don't get it.
May 21, 2012 at 1:11AM ESTRoadshow
May 20, 2012 at 7:18AM EST Reply to CommentI don't think these protestors have listened to Judas, I don't think it's mocking Jesus and Judas' name is surely used as a metaphor for betrayal.
And metaphors are something God approves of, I'm sure.
But I would say that - I've got my ticket to see Gaga when she comes here. YAY!
ryan
May 21, 2012 at 1:08AM EST Reply to CommentI'm sad to say in this particular case that I am filipino-american -- don't people know that Lady Gaga is Catholic?! It's outrageous to me that such protests exist when there are so many other greater issues out there.