Influencers face backlash for promoting a Saudi Arabian music festival

Several prominent models and Instagram influencers are facing backlash after attending and promoting Saudi Arabian music festival, MDL Beast. Commenters are “disappointed” and say they are “quietly ignoring the Saudi Arabian humanitarian crisis” by endorsing the country. The anger comes after Diet Prada — a prominent Instagram account that calls out fashion copycats — pointed out that models and online personalities like Nadine Leopold, Elsa Hosk, and Lorena Rae made posts advertising the festival.

Citing anonymous sources, the Diet Prada story claims influencers were offered six-figure sums for attendance and geo-tagged posts, in what appears to be the latest campaign by the Saudi government to try to rehabilitate the kingdom’s image...

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