Lady Gaga Responds To Islamic Threats Over Indonesia Show

Gaga's tour promoters are negotiating with government officials for Jakarta concert to go forward despite threats from extremist groups.
By John Mitchell

<P> Lady Gaga has responded to the increasingly volatile situation surrounding her "Born This Way" concert in Indonesia, saying on Twitter that she has been asked by authorities to censor her show and has received threats of violence from Islamic hardliners should it go on as planned.</P><P>Earlier reports indicated that Gaga's planned June 3 concert at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium had been canceled after Indonesian national police refused to issue a permit, citing objections from Islamic groups who worried that Gaga's performance would corrupt the nation's youth. However, Gaga's tour promoters are currently negotiating with government officials and police for the concert to go forward as planned.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Lady Gaga Will Bring a 'Personal' Touch To 'Born This Way' Tour" id="vid:717952" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>"The Jakarta situation is 2-fold: Indonesian authorities demand I censor the show &amp; religious extremist separately, are threatening violence," Gaga tweeted Tuesday (May 22). "If the show does go on as scheduled, I will perform the BTWBall alone."</P><P>Fifty thousand tickets for the show have been sold.</P><P>While Indonesia is a secular state governed as a multi-party representative democratic republic, it has the world's largest population of Muslims, most of whom practice a moderate form of the religion. However, there are also more extremist fringe groups that have in recent years become increasingly vocal, particularly regarding Western entertainers visiting the country. Beyonc &#233;, for example, was permitted to perform in Indonesia &#8212; the world's fourth most populous nation &#8212; on the condition she agreed to dress more conservatively.</P><P>But these groups' problems with Gaga extend beyond her wardrobe. The country's top Islamic body, the National Ulema Council (MUI), has said it objects to the concert not only because of her provocative costumes, but because it considers her lyrics to be "blasphemous," according to the AFP.</P><P>"Lady Gaga is considered an icon for liberal culture and Indonesia's freedom is not without limits," MUI official Asrorun Niam told <i>AFP</i>. "There are restrictions related to norms, morals and religion."</P><P>A more militant group, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), said it would "create havoc" if the pop star's performance went ahead, calling her the "devil's messenger." The Jakarta Globe reports the FPI have purchased 150 tickets to the concert, promising to enter the venue and stop the concert.</P><P>A spokesperson for FPI stressed that the group would not attack the audience, as their only target was Gaga and her crew. The group posted to its Facebook page a photo of a member wearing a turban and sunglasses to conceal his face, holding a ticket to the show with a caption reading, "We have gotten Lady Gaga tickets, not to watch but for us to enter. Whatever will be will be, we're ready for the risk."</P><P>"Hopefully, the concert is canceled," the FPI has said. The group previously threatened to intercept Gaga in transit from the airport if she even enters Indonesia.</P><P>Despite the threats, lawyers representing Gaga's tour production company reportedly met with Jakarta police today to negotiate the conditions necessary for the concert to go on as scheduled. A Jakarta police spokesman has said that for the concert to go ahead, concert promoters need to secure permits from the tourism ministry and the concert venue owner, in addition to ensuring Gaga "is dressed appropriately and does not violate cultural norms in this country."</P><P>Gaga also encountered protests in the Philippines from conservative Christian groups ahead of her concerts in Manila, but seemed in good spirits despite the controversy, tweeting, "And don't worry, if I get thrown in jail in Manila, Beyonce will just bail me out. Sold out night 2 in the Philippines. I love it here!"</p>

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WATCH: 'Hunger Games': Stars Who Didn't Make The Final Cut Revealed!

In this 'After Hours,' Elizabeth Banks explains why Chris Colfer, Chloë Moretz and others never made it to the big screen.
By Ryan J. Downey


"Hunger Games" star Elizabeth Banks
Photo: MTV News

"The Hunger Games" is nominated in several categories, including Best Movie, at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards tonight (June 3). Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and the rest of the cast have surely gotten massive career boosts from the runaway success of the box-office phenomenon. We can only imagine, then, how badly some of the actors who didn't make the cut must feel.

What sort of choices did they make in their own careers that caused filmmakers to excise them from the flick? Elizabeth Banks, of course, won the coveted role of Effie Trinket. In this exclusive MTV "After Hours" episode, the "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" and "40 Year Old Virgin" veteran revealed some never-before-seen footage to MTV News.

"It was an amazing experience [making 'The Hunger Games']. We had such a great cast. But, you know, there were so many really great actors who had to be cut because of time," Banks explained. "We had to cut some people out of the film. It's not because they were terrible in the film."

Certainly, the army of "Gleeks" would have loved to have seen Chris Colfer in "The Hunger Games," right? Chloë Grace Moretz turned up in last month's "Dark Shadows" but who's to say she couldn't have had time in her schedule for the "Games" a little before? This previously lost footage reveals how, for instance, Jeanne-Claude Van Damme would have approached a role in "The Hunger Games." (Here's a hint: It doesn't involve a shirt.)

"Actors make choices; that's what we do. Unfortunately, there are some actors who make really, really bad choices," Banks said.

"New Girl" star Max Greenfield really gave his performance his all, from what this "After Hours" footage revealed. Colfer tried more than one approach to the line "I volunteer!" Moretz had her own ideas about the movie's subject matter and ?uestlove had a great character name. Vinny Guadagnino, from MTV's own "Jersey Shore," had some unique ideas, as did singer Robin Thicke. Clark Gregg from "The Avengers?" Creative, as well.

"There was a bit of improv. Some would say too much," Banks said. "I would say that."

"Of course, I'm so proud of this film," she added. "Mostly, I'm proud that the editor cut all the deadweight."

Check out this unearthed footage cut from "The Hunger Games" and then judge for yourself whether it should have stayed in the movie.

Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to cast your vote for Best Hero and Best Movie now! The "Movie Awards Punk'd Pre-Party" starts at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the 21st annual MTV Movie Awards live tonight at 9 p.m. ET!

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