Cheb Khaled deletes concert footage following criticism in Algeria

Algerian singer Cheb Khaled has deleted social media footage from his recent performance at the Rab’Africa festival in Rabat, Morocco, following intense criticism in Algeria.

The backlash arose because the celebratory concert took place while Algeria was in a period of national mourning following devastating wildfires that claimed at least twelve lives. Critics on Algerian social media accused the artist of being insensitive and questioned his patriotism due to his ties to Morocco.

In response, Khaled released a video asserting his unwavering loyalty to Algeria, stating, “I will never be against my country,” and “I will never be part of a plan that impacts or harms my country, even through mere words.” He urged the public to stop sharing out-of-context recordings and instead focus on supporting wildfire victims and the emergency services involved in the relief efforts.