Maluma walks out of World Cup interview following question on Qatar’s human rights record

Maluma walked out of a live TV interview after being quizzed on human rights issues surrounding the soccer World Cup in Qatar. Maluma, who features on the 2022 FIFA World Cup song "Tukoh Taka" alongside Nicki Minaj, branded a reporter from Israel's KAN News "rude" before abandoning the interview.

During the interview Maluma was asked: "Don't you have a problem with human rights violations in this country?" He responded that it was something he couldn't resolve, adding he had come to "enjoy life, enjoy soccer."

Qatar's human rights record has come under intense scrutiny in the run-up to the World Cup. A 2021 investigation by the Guardian found that more than 6,500 migrant workers from five south Asian countries had died in Qatar while working to build the stadiums needed to host the tournament. Additionally, homosexuality is effectively criminalized in the country while questions remain over the selection process to host the tournament in the Gulf state.

As Maluma walked away from presenter he was asked: "Why am I rude Maluma? I think this is what people say, this is what people think."