Rod Stewart Turns Down Saudi Arabia Performance in Protest Over Treatment of Women, LGBTQ+ Community

Sir Rod Stewart is taking a stance against Saudi Arabia's human rights issues and declined to perform in the country in an effort to bring light to their treatment of women and LGBTQ+ people.

The legendary 78-year-old musician wrote about his decision in a recent Instagram post.

"I'm grateful that I have a choice whether or not to perform in Saudi Arabia. So many citizens there have extremely limited choices -- women, the LGBTQ community, the press," wrote Stewart.

"I'd like my choice not to go... to shine a light on the injustices there and ignite positive change."

Stewart's bio linked out to a Mirror UK article reporting that he turned down "one of the biggest pay checks of his career," but did not disclose the amount.

While Stewart declined, other musicians like Bruno Mars and Iggy Azalea have accepted invitations to perform there in recent years. The latter's performance was deemed "blasphemous" due to her lyrics and was shut down after a wardrobe malfunction exposed her legs.

Homosexuality is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, and human rights still struggle to gain traction in the country.