After Controversy in Algeria, Cheb Khaled Deletes Images from His Concert in Rabat

The posts that had fueled anger against Cheb Khaled in Algeria have disappeared from his social media accounts. They showed the singer on stage at the Rab’Africa festival in Rabat, while Algeria was being hit by deadly fires and observing three days of national mourning.

After deleting these images, the Moroccan-naturalized Algerian singer published a video to respond directly to the accusations against him. “I will never be against my country,” he essentially stated.

“I will never be part of any plan that affects or harms my country, even by a single word,” Cheb Khaled said in the video. The singer thus rejected the accusations from those who interpreted his presence in Morocco as a lack of consideration for the victims of the fires in Algeria.

On Bladi.net : Twelve dead in Algeria as images of Cheb Khaled celebrating in Rabat spark outrage

He also asked that the rebroadcasting of old recordings and statements taken out of context stop. Cheb Khaled said that some posts circulating on social media were helping to create problems between him and Algerians.

Cheb Khaled Responds to the Accusations

The “king of raï” called on his detractors to focus on what he considers the real problems of the moment, particularly the victims of the fires. He also paid tribute to the mobilization of Algerians, the young people who came to help those affected, as well as the members of the civil protection services and the army involved in fighting the fires.

The controversy erupted after images of his performance in Rabat were broadcast. The singer had performed at the Rab’Africa festival and had taken advantage of his appearance on stage to send a message to King Mohammed VI, wishing him health, well-being and a long life on the occasion of Youth Day.

These images were then widely shared in Algeria, while several fires had just claimed at least twelve lives. Some Algerian internet users strongly attacked the singer, with some even going so far as to question his patriotism because of his close ties with Morocco.

On Bladi.net : During a Concert in Rabat, Cheb Khaled Sends a Message to Mohammed VI

This new controversy adds to a long series of them. Since obtaining Moroccan nationality in 2013, Cheb Khaled’s appearances in Morocco have regularly sparked strong reactions in Algeria. The highly tense political context between the two countries has further heightened the sensitivity surrounding his relations with the Kingdom.

This time, Cheb Khaled chose to respond: the posts from Rabat were removed, and the singer affirmed that his attachment to Algeria cannot be called into question, despite his longstanding closeness to Morocco.

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