Blog Post Oct 18, 2024 A History of Sports & Dictators, Part 4: Soviet Sports propaganda When Tsar Peter I — better known as Peter the Great — visited England in 1689, he arranged what has been called the “first international boxing match” in the garden of the nobleman’s home.
Blog Post Sep 6, 2024 A History of Sports & Dictators, Part 3: Post-WWII Soft Power Long before the inception of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, sports have been used to distract the masses, test foreign policies, thaw diplomatic tensions, and broadcast political and social messaging.
Publication Aug 27, 2024 US senators call out NBA’s relationship with Rwanda dictator Paul Kagame: ‘Putting profit over principle’ Two United States senators have accused the NBA of “putting profit over principle,” which was detailed in a letter sent to commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday.
Publication Aug 27, 2024 Oregon Sen. Merkley raises concerns over reported NBA ties to Rwandan dictatorship Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley sent a letter to National Basketball Association Commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday, raising concerns over the organization’s reported ties to dictators.
Publication Aug 27, 2024 NBA under fire: U.S. Senators slam league’s ties to controversial Rwandan leader The NBA finds itself in the hot seat once again, but this time, it’s not over a controversial call or a player feud-it’s a matter of global ethics.
Blog Post Aug 9, 2024 A History of Sports & Dictators, Part 2: The Rise of Fascism Long before the inception of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, sports have been used to distract the masses, test foreign policies, thaw diplomatic tensions, and broadcast political and social messaging.
Publication Jul 26, 2024 How the NBA got into business with an African dictator In the summer of 2018, inside a national arena that felt more like a small-college gym, the NBA commissioner shot free throws with the president of Rwanda.
Publication May 17, 2024 Bad Business In my Impromptus today, I have some sports — starting with Simone Biles — and some presidential politics — a lot of that — and some language — the shape-shifting of English — and other matters. Try it here.
Blog Post Feb 9, 2024 A History of Sports and Dictators, Part 1: From Ramses II to Rome’s Bread & Circuses In the Olympic Games of 416, Athenian statesman and military general Alcibiades fielded seven teams in one of the most prestigious Olympic events, the four-horse chariot race known as the quadriga.
Publication Nov 9, 2021 Justin Bieber Slammed by Human Rights Activists Ahead of Saudi Arabia Concert Justin Bieber is being accused by a human rights organization chaired by former chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov of becoming a “pawn” of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman if he performs in Saudi Arabia next month.
Publication May 11, 2021 Akon’s Romance with Dictatorship Another chapter was recently written in the ongoing romance between celebrities and dictators. This time the dictator seeking to launder his reputation and distract from his crimes was Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni.
Publication Aug 6, 2020 Tyga Cancels Belarus Concert Criticized as “Propaganda Stunt” Rapper Tyga has been urged by the Human Rights Foundation to cancel a concert in Belarus organized by its “dictator” ruler and due to take place the night before a presidential election.
Publication Jul 9, 2019 Nicki Minaj pulls out of Saudi Arabia performance following backlash from human rights activists Hip-hop star Nicki Minaj said that she is no longer headlining a concert in Saudi Arabia this month after her decision to perform in the staunchly conservative nation generated backlash from human rights groups.
Publication Aug 4, 2015 Lionel Messi accused of undermining children’s rights work with Gabon visit US-based group says Barcelona striker displayed ‘enthusiastic support for dictatorship that has refused to investigate ritual murders
Publication Aug 3, 2015 Lionel Messi Slammed for ‘Partying with Oppressors’ by Human Rights Foundation The Human Rights Foundation has issued a scathing attack on Lionel Messi in the wake of his recent visit to Gabon, accusing the Barcelona icon of “partying with oppressors.”
Publication Aug 3, 2015 Lionel Messi criticised by Human Rights Foundation for Gabon trip HRF condemns Barcelona star’s trip to Gabon amidst allegations of child murder and organ harvesting
Publication Aug 3, 2015 Lionel Messi accused of endorsing Gabon ‘dictatorship’ with visit to 2017 Africa Cup of Nations venue Barcelona striker Lionel Messi accused by activists of showing ‘enthusiastic support’ for central African country that failed to halt ritual murder of children.
Publication Aug 3, 2015 Lionel Messi Slammed for ‘Partying with Oppressors’ by Human Rights Foundation The Human Rights Foundation has issued a scathing attack on Lionel Messi in the wake of his recent visit to Gabon, accusing the Barcelona icon of “partying with oppressors.”
Publication May 2, 2014 Erykah Badu’s Oppressively Apolitical Stance on Human Rights Entertainers have been learning the hard way that there are consequences for celebrating dictators.
Publication Oct 28, 2012 Urban Outfitters No Longer Carrying Che Guevara Shirts After Controversy After drawing public criticism for offering shirts emblazoned with the image of Argentine-born guerrilla leader Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the company no longer appears to offer the product.
