R&B sensation Alicia Keys has been forced to apologise to fans in Indonesia after discovering her forthcoming concert in the country was part-sponsored by a cigarette manufacturer.
The Fallin’ singer is set to play in the country’s capital Jakarta next week (31Jul08) and posters have been put up around the city to promote the show.

But anti-smoking groups have been left furious after it was revealed the event was in association with Mild Live Production; an Indonesian subsidiary company of tobacco giant Philip Morris International, reports Gigwise.com.R&B sensation Alicia Keys has been forced to apologise to fans in Indonesia after discovering her forthcoming concert in the country was part-sponsored by a cigarette manufacturer.
The Fallin’ singer is set to play in the country’s capital Jakarta next week (31Jul08) and posters have been put up around the city to promote the show.

But anti-smoking groups have been left furious after it was revealed the event was in association with Mild Live Production; an Indonesian subsidiary company of tobacco giant Philip Morris International, reports Gigwise.com.

And campaign group Tobacco Free Kids were further enraged with the hypocritical smoking warnings which were also printed on all promotional material, which read: “Smoking can cause cancer, heart attacks, impotence and harm pregnancy and foetal development.”

After the connection came to light, Keys immediately demanded for all association with the company to be removed from promotional material - as well as apologising for the “misleading advertising”.
She adds, “As a result, the tobacco company has respectfully withdrawn their sponsorship and all billboards, signage and other forms of advertising will be immediately removed.”