Burna Boy Claims He Declined $5 Million Performance In Dubai Over Weed

November 2, 2023 4

Burna Boy has revealed that he once turned down a $5 million offer for a show in Dubai. During the Nigerian’s recent set, the award-winning crooner sang lyrics detailing the opportunity for him to make several figures with his talents. However, he revealed he ultimately turned down the offer due to the stipulation of not being able to smoke marijuana during his visit to the country.

In a clip obtained by No Jumper, Burna Boy can be seen in the middle of a performance, as the vocalist professes his affinity for marijuana while crooning about his incessant usage of the plant. The international star’s stance has received a mixed reception, with some praising his choice to stick to his guns and buck the Middle Eastern country’s position. Others have attributed Burna Boy’s decision to an addiction to marijuana, arguing that it was a bad decision to turn down such a significant offer for his services.

In recent years, Burna Boy’s popularity has gradually exploded, as the singer has emerged as one of the most beloved musicians to come from Africa and has attained a slew of milestones for the African. In 2022, Burna Boy launched his own cannabis brand domestically, which is called BRKFAST. At the time, Burna Boy spoke on the negative stigma that comes with smoking marijuana in his homeland, pointing out that it’s taboo to be seen smoking or in possession of the plant.

“It’s not a zero-tolerance. It’s like everybody does it, but nobody wants to be the one that is seen with it,” the crooner says of marijuana, which is illegal in Nigeria. “It’s just kind of hypocritical out there. Everybody smokes weed,” he said.

While Burna Boy may have missed a massive payday, the artist is still blazing trails, as he did throughout the past two years. His breakout single “Last Last” from his album Love, Damini, became his first No. 1 record on the Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart, and he scored the first-ever headlining performance by an African artist at Madison Square Garden in 2021. The catchy track includes a sample of Toni Braxton’s classic 2000 single “He Wasn’t Man Enough.”

Watch Burna Boy’s performance below.