Saudi singer dabs his way to jail (video)

Lifestyle

Published: 2017-08-11 15:51

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 07:19


Screen grab from an image circulated by the NCNC, warning against dabbing
Screen grab from an image circulated by the NCNC, warning against dabbing

Popular Saudi singer, Abdallah Al Shahani, has been arrested for dabbing at a festival in the country’s south-west, reports BBC News. No need to read that again, you got it right the first time.

A video of Al Shahani dabbing was widely circulated on social media, with thousands tweeting about the incident. The discourse around it has turned into a question of “did he do it on purpose?” Al Shahani’s response: no, but I’m very sorry. His exact words on Twitter were “I apologise to our respected government and to my audience for unintentionally and spontaneously performing the dance move at Taif festival. Please accept my apology."

Seemingly out of ideas for ways to limit drug use, the conservative country’s National Commission for Combating Drugs recently banned the dance move, which involves a person tucking their head into the crook of their arm, because of alleged references to marijuana use.