AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Morgan Freeman (L) and Ghanim Al Muftah perform during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Morgan Freeman is being slammed by fans for participating in this year’s Qatar World Cup opening ceremony on Sunday, and even narrated the opening segment in the Middle Eastern country, which stands accused of continuous human rights violations.
The 85-year-old actor kicked off the festivities at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Doha, according to the Independent.
“We gather here as one big tribe and Earth is the tent we all live in,” the Oscar winner told the crowd.
The government of Qatar took several measures to ban armbands supporting the LGBTQ “OneLove” campaign. According to FIFA, players sporting such armbands would be given a yellow card.
Qatar also banned the consumption of meat products and beer, two days before the matches were set to kick off.
And fans were quick to excoriate Freeman for participating in the country’s opening ceremony.
“For a man who played Nelson Mandela — who knew better than anyone the impact and importance of isolation on a country and its success on the ground to change that nation’s policy,” tweeted one angry fan. “It is so disappointing to see #MorganFreeman take the money and support an oppressive regime.”
Another person tweeted “Morgan Freeman is really determined to go to the deepest level of hell huh”
“Qatar out there with Morgan Freeman spitting words like unity/inclusion in an effort to promote tourism, and then not practicing it,” a third commented. “For all the ‘their country their rules’ crowd out there, sure. But then they don’t get to lie bout what they’re really about just for a cash grab.”
“Morgan Freeman should be ashamed. How much they pay you? How much is your integrity? Never rise your voice to talk about of minorities. You just lost that privilege,” blasted another commenter.
The ongoing controversy plaguing the World Cup host country has seen several celebrities back out of commitments, including Shakira and Dua Lipa.
Freeman did not immediately respond to the New York Post‘s request for comment.
