Rod Stewart reveals he snubbed Qatar over its human rights record turning down $1million to perform

Sir Rod Stewart was offered a $1million deal to perform in Qatar, but turned it down because of the Gulf state’s human rights record, the rockstar has revealed. 

Discussing the controversy surrounding the World Cup host nation – where homosexuality is illegal – the singer said he thought it would be wrong to play a set there. 

‘I was actually offered a lot of money, over $1m, to play there 15 months ago,’ Stewart, 77, told the Sunday Times.

Sir Rod Stewart revealed he was offered a $1million deal to perform in Qatar, but turned it down because of the Gulf state’s human rights record

The songwriter’s comments come as a number of stars face backlash for attending and promoting the Fifa World Cup, which begins next week

‘I turned it down. It’s not right to go. And the Iranians should be out too for supplying arms,’ he said in reference to drones supplied by the country to Russia, which was barred from the tournament.

He added that he thinks supporters attending matches in Qatar – where being gay can lead to imprisonment and even the death sentence for Muslims – ‘have got to watch out’.

Stewart has been considered an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, previously saying he was ‘surrounded by gay men in the 70s’.

One of the rocker’s records, The Killing of Georgie, is about the murder of a gay friend and came out in 1976 when few mainstream songs discussed the experiences of gay men. 

He said it would have been ‘good’ to sing the song as a protest during the opening ceremony of the football tournament. 

The songwriter’s comments come as a number of stars face backlash for attending and promoting the Fifa World Cup, which begins next week.

David Beckham has faced severe backlash for accepting a reported £10m to be an ambassador for Qatar 2022, particularly as he has previously been considered a supporter of the gay community.

David Beckham, pictured in Qatar, has signed a promotional contract with the country reportedly worth £10 million

Comedian Joe Lycett today criticised the former England player’s decision to represent the tournament and warned him he should pull out with a public stunt.

Taking to Twitter, Lycett told fans he will put £10,000 in a shredder and livestream it on the evening of the Football World Cup opening ceremony if Beckham does not pull out of his deal with Qatar.

If he ends the deal, Lycett said he would donate the money to charities supporting LGBTQ+ rights. 

Singer and former Take That star Robbie Williams has also been criticised after an announcement that he intends to perform in Qatar this December.

The Fifa World Cup is taking place in Qatar between 20 November and 18 December.