Jennifer Lopez’s first-ever concert in Kazakhstan has ignited a heated debate — not about her performance, but her wardrobe.
Astana city maslikhat (local council) member Saule Samidin criticized the pop star’s revealing stage outfits, suggesting they were not culturally appropriate for a Kazakh audience. The concert, held Aug. 1 at Astana Arena, featured Lopez performing her iconic hits in a high-energy show packed with dancing and special effects.
Samidin commented on social media that her 16-year-old daughter had compared Lopez’s wardrobe choices in Astana to her concerts in the United Arab Emirates, where the singer had opted for more modest attire.
«We are not the Emirates, and we have different guidelines,» Samidin wrote. «But we still have a mentality, and perhaps some images could have been adapted to the local audience.»
Her remarks quickly drew backlash online. Many social media users accused the official of focusing on trivial issues instead of pressing problems such as women’s rights, fraud, corruption and infrastructure.
«Considering that you have been chair of our maslikhat since 2023 (!), we kindly ask you to turn your valuable attention (funded by our taxes) to something more important and necessary in our country,» one commenter wrote.
Others defended Lopez, suggesting Kazakhstan should be grateful for the global attention and economic activity her performance brought.
«Thank her for contributing to the budget, not criticizing her outfit,» one user said.
The concert sparked a wave of excitement in the country. Ahead of the show, Lopez’s Kazakh fans flooded her manager’s Instagram post announcing the «Up All Night» world tour with heart emojis, Kazakh flags and warm invitations to try beshbarmak, the national dish.
A Kazakh Instagram user with the handle @qaramood surprised followers by sharing a series of AI-generated images depicting Jennifer Lopez «visiting» famous landmarks in Astana. In one of the digital renderings, Lopez is shown at the Baiterek Monument, placing her hand on the golden handprint of Kazakhstan’s first President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Dozens of fans gathered outside her hotel, hoping to catch a glimpse of the star before the concert. The buzz even spilled into the housing market — rental prices for apartments near Astana Arena surged as concertgoers scrambled for accommodations.
