The controversy surrounding Serbian singer Jelena Karleuša's planned concert in Vodice, Croatia, has escalated dramatically after local authorities and parts of the public expressed strong opposition. The event was initially scheduled for August 15, the feast day of the Assumption of Mary, at the Hacienda club in Vodice. However, the organizers confirmed earlier this week that the concert would not proceed due to security concerns and intense public pressure. This decision followed widespread criticism over Karleuša’s past political statements and her perceived alignment with Serbian President Aleksander Vučić’s government. The backlash against Karleuša stems primarily from her previous remarks on Croatia and Croats, which have been widely interpreted as derogatory. Local mayor of Vodice, Ante Cukrov, explicitly stated that the issue was not Karleuša’s nationality but rather her past comments about Croatia and its citizens. Despite this clarification, several Serbian media outlets have framed the situation differently, suggesting that Croatian citizens were responsible for the hostility toward the singer. Among these, the state-aligned newspaper Informer used inflammatory language, referring to critics of Karleuša as “Ustashas” and claiming they had issued threats against her. Such rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism, especially given the paper’s history of being associated with propaganda efforts against student protests in Serbia in 2025. Other Serbian media outlets, such as Telegraf and Kurir, have similarly misrepresented Cukrov’s stance. They described his response to the controversy as a “brutal attack” on Karleuša, despite his clear explanation that the issue was related to her political views, not her national origin. These portrayals have further fueled tensions, particularly considering the context of Karleuša’s past statements. In February 2025, she made controversial remarks during an interview with Informer TV, where she suggested that some participants in the large student protests in Belgrade and Novi Sad spoke in a “Croatian dialect” of the Serbian language. Her comment implied that the Croatian language was merely a variant of Serbian, and linked the presence of Croatians among protesters to opposition against Vučić’s government. Karleuša herself addressed the controversy in an exclusive interview with RTL Danas, stating that she felt targeted by political spin and misinterpretation of her words. She emphasized that she had never intended to make negative comments about the Croatian people and denied any intent to provoke. She pointed out that in Serbia, concerts by Croatian artists would never be canceled, unlike her own case. She also highlighted her personal connection to Croatia, noting that Zagreb is home to many of her fans outside of Serbia. In a separate statement posted on social media, Karleuša reiterated that she did not divide people based on nationality and criticized the organized efforts to target her online through bots and manipulated content. She explained that her previous comments were directed at political situations and not at any specific nation. She also mentioned that she had long performed in Croatia and held great respect for its audience. As evidence of her stance, she cited her song “Balkan Boy,” in which she referenced Croatia in a positive light. The owner of the Hacienda club, where Karleuša was set to perform, has previously been linked to Jelena Perčin, who was married to the club’s former owner. The club itself had been under scrutiny in recent years, with reports of legal disputes and controversies surrounding its management. While the exact reasons behind the cancellation remain unclear, the decision appears to have been influenced by both security concerns and the broader political climate. As the situation continues to unfold, the focus remains on whether the cancellation will lead to further diplomatic or cultural repercussions. Karleuša has maintained that she is not a threat and that her music should not be conflated with politics. Meanwhile, Croatian officials and citizens continue to emphasize their right to reject individuals whose views they find offensive, regardless of their nationality. The incident underscores the complex interplay between art, identity, and political sentiment in the Balkans.
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