This week I traveled to Saudi Arabia for a job with Justin Bieber. He was performing for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and there was a lot in the news about human rights violations which clearly Saudi Arabia is very guilty of.
I did have mixed feelings about going. How could I not? But I was excited to see a part of the world I’d never seen before, be with a crew I really love, and work with a client who I care deeply for and respect so much.
To me, Justin’s work is about opening hearts. He models empathy and compassion across everything he does, in a time where such generosity is hard to come by.
When we got to the show, the crowd was 50,000 deep of young Saudi kids who knew every single word to his songs. Who screamed at the top of their lungs that they were going to get their weed in California, and that their girl was a Badass BItch.
I almost burst into tears.
The thing is, it’s not up to entertainers to solve the problems created by government and evil men.
It’s their job to bring positivity to the people who have no say in the matter.
And that’s what Justin did. These kids were so alive, and so joyful. They were one of the most amazing crowds I’ve ever seen.
They loved every moment of it, and so did we.
Of course, it’s never ever that simple.
But for a moment, when you can get lost in the music. It is.
x Karla
