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Chris Brown (top left); Miley Cyrus (top center); Jay-Z (top right); Beyoncé (bottom left); Brad Pitt (bottom center); Lady Gaga (bottom right).
David McNew (top left); Mario Anzuoni (top center); Mark J. Rebilas (top right); Lucas Jackson (bottom left); Shannon Stapleton (bottom center); Mario Anzuoni (bottom right).
Many celebrities have been banned over the years from visiting or performing in various foreign countries. Alec Badwin was banned from the Philippines, 50 Cent from Canada and Snoop Dogg from Norway, just to name a few. We put together a list of some of the more interesting and outrageous cases.
Sometimes the reasons are straight forward, like vulgarity or "questionable morality," and other times the reasons are rooted in a country’s culture, political stance or religion.
Finally one country’s ban on a celebrity was ultimately reversed for the very reason he was banned in the first place. Here we go!
Singer-Songwriter Beyonce Knowles arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala (Met Gala) in the Manhattan borough of New York, May 2, 2016.
Reuters/Lucas Jackson
In 2007 Beyoncé was scheduled to perform in Malaysia.
Following “accusations by Islamic conservatives that the show would be immoral,” Beyoncé had to postpone her concert, the BBC reported.
“Female performers at Malaysian concerts are required by government rules to cover up from the shoulders to knees, with no cleavage showing,” according to the report.
Recording artist Jay Z in attendance during the world welterweight championship bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Mark J. Rebilas/Reuters/USA TODAY Sports
China has a history of banning American performers. Most recently the bans have been for supporting the Free Tibet movement and the Dalai Lama, but Jay Z was “thought to have fallen foul of the Chinese authorities for references to drug dealers, pimps, violence and guns in his music,” the BBC reported.
Singer Chris Brown attends a hearing at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, California February 6, 2013.
Reuters/David McNew
Some countries have responded to public cases of domestic abuse by banning the abusers from their country, as in the case of Chris Brown.
“Brown requires a special visa because of his past conviction after he pleaded guilty to punching and strangling Rihanna. Britain and Canada have both issued similar bans because of the conviction.”
The Independent reported that in Indonesia, “hard-liners have loudly criticized Lady Gaga, saying the suggestive nature of her show threatened to undermine the country's moral fiber. Some threatened to use physical force to prevent her from stepping off the plane.”
Although Pitt hinted that he would be visiting China, ABC News reported that he was on a list with other A-list celebrities who were banned from China.
“The ‘Banned From China’ distinction is one Pitt has shared with the likes of Richard Gere, Martin Scorsese and Harrison Ford, all big Dalai Lama supporters.”
Show host Miley Cyrus speaks on stage at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California August 30, 2015.
Reuters/Mario Anzuoni
This ban was issued by the Dominican government in the middle of Cyrus’ 2014 "Bangerz" tour. The BBC reported that, “Authorities say they have stopped the gig because she ‘undertakes acts that go against morals and customs, which are punishable by Dominican law.’”
Actor Sacha Baron Cohen (C) in the role of fictitious Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev is turned away from the Kazakh Embassy in Washington, September 28, 2006.
Reuters/Joshua Roberts
Cohen was banned from Kazakhstan for his starring role in the mockumentary "Borat," in which he depicts an outrageous Kazakh man who comes to the United States for the first time.
“Authorities banned the film and threatened to sue the comedian after its release in 2006," the BBC reported. "The government banned sales of the DVD and blocked users from visiting Borat's website.”
But in April 2012, Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov said, "With the release of this film, the number of visas issued by Kazakhstan grew tenfold.”
Kazykhanov added that he is "grateful to 'Borat' for helping attract tourists to Kazakhstan."
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