Hollywood actor and musician Will Smith, performing in Baku ahead of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, was seen wearing an “I Love Azerbaijan” t-shirt handed to him by someone in the audience.
His public display of support comes amid international outcry over Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses, raising concerns that his actions contribute to the country’s efforts to “sportswash” its crimes and distract from its continued violations of human rights.
This year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix is expected to achieve record-breaking global viewership, with coverage from approximately 300 journalists”including around 200 from international outlets such as Sky Sports, Motorsport, Canal+, Netflix, and The Sun. By drawing significant international attention, the event risks further aiding Azerbaijan in masking its human rights abuses behind the spectacle of sports.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, held from September 13-15, 2024, takes place at the Baku City Circuit, a fixture in the city since 2017 and set to continue until at least 2026.
What is sportswashing? Sportswashing refers to the practice of using sports events and celebrity endorsements to distract from or improve the image of countries with poor human rights records.
As reported by Zartonk Media, just yesterday, British lawmakers and Armenian community leaders appealed to Formula One Group President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, urging him to “stop enabling Azerbaijan to sportswash its crimes.” The Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix risks further distracting from the country’s ongoing human rights violations.
The signatories wrote on behalf of six Armenian political prisoners”former leaders of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)”who are being unlawfully held hostage by Azerbaijani authorities. These prisoners include three former presidents of Artsakh, a former state minister, a former foreign minister, and the former president of the National Assembly, all captured when the Azerbaijani army entered Artsakh. Following a ten-month siege that deprived the local population of food, fuel, and medical supplies, Azerbaijan forcibly displaced over 120,000 Armenians from their millennia-old homeland.
As the Grand Prix shines an international spotlight on Baku, Will Smith’s performance only serves to distract from Azerbaijan’s role in the ethnic cleansing and genocide of Armenians from Artsakh, which approaches its one-year anniversary. His wearing of the “I Love Azerbaijan” shirt further intensifies concerns of sportswashing, as Azerbaijan continues to hold Armenian political prisoners in violation of international law.
Smith’s performance and public support for Azerbaijan only further the country’s agenda of masking its crimes and human rights abuses.
This is a stark reminder of how celebrities can aid in whitewashing regimes that commit grave human rights violations. It’s critical that we call out and correct these displays, ensuring the true narrative of Azerbaijan’s actions doesn’t get buried beneath a facade of entertainment.
