Paris Hilton has become the unlikely new ammunition in the online mud-slinging match between Saudis and Qataris - but what does Ivanka Trump have to do with it?
The socialite tweeted about her arrival in the tiny Gulf state on Thursday, thanking Qatar airlines for her flight.
Thank you @QatarAirways for the beautiful engagement cake & amazing flight to #Qatar. pic.twitter.com/G8WjQXondH
— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) January 25, 2018
But it seems Hilton - who some have described as “famous for being famous” - may not have been as welcome as she had expected.
A hashtag “we demand the cancellation of Paris Hilton’s gig” took off, referring to her planned appearance Friday night at a Doha nightclub, Black Orchid.
It’s “Qatar”
— عَــلِـيّ (@Gra7Syasy) January 23, 2018
Unique word with “Q” followed by “a”
The anger was not even over the fact she had spelled Qatar wrong in her tweet - although that did raise a few eyebrows.
Qataris called on the Entertainment Ministry to shut down the concert, with @Hajri_Qtr_ asking the Emir “to arrest the official responsible for this debauchery.”
In fact, the whole controversy may be more about the Gulf crisis than a concern for the nation’s morality.
Saudis flooded the trend with claims the concert was an indication of depravity from the Qatari ruling family.
Twitter users shared images purporting to be from a social media account belonging to Hilton, showing a cigar with an image of Qatar’s Emir printed on it.
#الغا_حفل_باريس_هيلتون_مطلبنا
— سـاره (@sarrah7700) January 27, 2018
كيف شعب يرضى ان يكون حاكمهم صورته على زقاره والي تشربها عاهره و تم دعوتها من يتيم المجد pic.twitter.com/mjEmW4dSEb
How can a people be pleased that their ruler's image is on a cigarette, which is being smoked by a "prostitute?"
Saudi Arabia was among four countries to sever ties with their neighbor on June 5 and impose an air, sea and land embargo, alleging Qatari support for terrorism.
@m_altayer tweeted slamming what he claimed was “free transport on Qatar Airways, gifts and pampering for the porn star. And millions of dollars as a gift from the princely fund.”
Hilton appeared in a sex tape that was leaked to the public in 2003.
The following image was also circulated, comparing Friday in different Arab nations. Across Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, it suggests, the call to prayer rings out. In Doha, meanwhile, controversial Qatar-based cleric Youssef Al-Qardawi is shown praising Paris Hilton.
شعب قطر الاصيل يقول #الغا_حفل_باريس_هيلتون_مطلبنا
— واحد من المسلمي (@Ol1raF) January 27, 2018
اما مرتزقة الحمدين وتميم ومن على شاكلته لا يهتمون للاخلاق او لشعب فكل ما يهمهم كيف يرضون امريكا واليهود ليمرروا كذبتهم ان المقاطعه حصار ... متى ما اقروا انها مقاطعه ستنحل مشاكل قطر بأذن الله
صوره من غير التحيه للحمدين وحكومتهم pic.twitter.com/Ka99sHdVeZ
Friday is the holy day for Muslims, when many gather at the local mosque for midday prayers.
The biggest mystery, however, was why the hashtag was inundated with references to the daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a backlash against Saudi criticism, Qataris compared Hilton’s visit to that of Ivanka Trump to Riyadh along with her father in May.
@abufares_qatar wrote: “Some Saudis are fools. They hosted the prostitute Ivanka.”
“They danced with her father Trump at a ceremony costing them millions and then sent 450 billion dollars to America, leaving the people in poverty and destitution.”
“Then they come to bark against Qatar and participate in a silly tag like ‘we demand the cancellation of Paris Hilton’s gig.’”
يعني اشمعنى ايفانكا جاتكم ومدت رجولها هي وأبوها وزوجته في وجيهكم ورقصتوا لهم بعد
— هـღ̨̥̬̩ـند Qa (@Hiindhamd) January 25, 2018
جات على باريس يلا بس سكروا الملاهي الليليه الي صارت بنص شوارعكم والحفلات المختلطه
"
هي اذا جات بتستثمر مابترقص ولا تغني يااغبياء
#ياتميم_المجد_لانريد_الفساد
#الغا_حفل_باريس_هيلتون_مطلبنا pic.twitter.com/iuRnnHD0S2
Why, when Ivanka came to you and stretched out her legs, and her father and husband were in your face. did you dance for them?
[But you want to criticize] Ivanka. Okay, close your nightclubs in the middle of the street, and mixed parties.
She came to invest, not to dance or sing, you idiots.
#الغا_حفل_باريس_هيلتون_مطلبنا
— Nadia(@Alqwbari) January 25, 2018
إلا نبيها ونصbr>فديتها بنت هيلتون ياهلا ويامرحبا..
واللي مسوويين الهاشتاق أقولهم
خلكم فـ بنت ترامب مالتكم اللي بنيتوا لها مساومالكم شغل يلا الخ pic.twitter.com/Mp24M0wue4
We want her one and a half times. Hello and welcome to the Hilton daughter. To those who made the hashtag, I say: you keep your Trump's daughter who you built mosques for.
Still, it seems the model and singer was oblivious to her sudden role in Middle Eastern politics, as she took to Instagram on Friday to share images of herself riding a camel.
