Dua Lipa was an unlikely name to enter the Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fight buildup. The singer became part of the conversation after Turki Alalshikh brought her up at the event's launch.
Joshua and Fury faced off ahead of their 11 December showdown at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. Lipa had previously been approached about performing at the fight but declined the offer.
While discussing the December showdown's move to Wales, the boxing promoter resurfaced Lipa's decision during the fight's launch on 30 September, drawing her back into the conversation.
Her fans quickly questioned why the singer had been brought into the discussion.
Alalshikh Mentions Lipa
Alalshikh said, 'I will be honest today, I know that London wouldn't give me the stadium until 2 am. And I know that Dua Lipa will not perform in the stadium because she doesn't like boxing, and maybe she doesn't like me.'
'I think she has something with the Arab,' he later added. 'And, you know, it is my blood. I cannot change it.'
There is no evidence that Lipa declined the performance because of Alalshikh, boxing or her views about Arabs. She is yet to publicly explain her personal reasons.
Fans Question Why
The comments quickly caught the attention of some Lipa fans. One fan wrote, 'She's honestly such an icon; he's embarrassing himself.'
Another criticised the apparent reference to ethnicity, while others questioned why Lipa had become part of the press conference at all.
'Somebody plz explain why Dua Lipa is getting brought up at a boxing match,' a commenter wrote.
The reaction also moved into speculation over why Lipa declined to perform. 'Dua Lipa, as Arabian person I love you and your arts. Please don't get discouraged or distracted from this disgusting mosquito,' a fan shared on X.
Dua Lipa, as Arabian person I love you and your arts. Please don’t get discouraged or distracted from this disgusting mosquito.
— rfgsdgds (@rfgsdgds24400) October 1, 2026
Another user thanked Lipa 'on behalf of Saudi people' for rejecting Alalshikh.
Others connected the moment to Lipa's support for Palestine. One commenter wrote, 'tbf I highly doubt she doesn't like Arabs, maybe she just doesn't like the zionist arabs'.
tbf I highly doubt she doesn’t like Arabs, maybe she just doesn’t like the zionist arabs
— 2elevenz (@2elevenz) September 30, 2026
These comments show some users interpreting Alalshikh's remarks through Lipa's publicly known support for Palestine, rather than accepting his explanation for why she declined.
Lipa Turned Down Offer
The singer's involvement in the fight is not entirely new.
Lipa had previously been approached about performing at the event and declined the offer, according to BBC Sport. Alalshikh had also publicly discussed the possibility of having her perform as part of the event.
Her decision was never publicly explained, leaving Alalshikh's comments about why she declined unsubstantiated.
Major musical performances have become a feature of Alalshikh-backed boxing events. Liam Gallagher performed before Joshua's 2024 fight with Daniel Dubois, while Eminem performed ahead of Terence Crawford's bout with Israil Madrimov that year.
Joshua and Fury Prepare
Away from the Lipa controversy, Joshua and Fury are now preparing for their long-awaited meeting.
The two British heavyweights will fight at Principality Stadium, with the bout marking the culmination of years of negotiations. Fury returned from retirement earlier this year and defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, while Joshua last fought in December, when he stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round.
Fury's unanimous decision win over Makhmudov came after a 15-month absence from the ring, and he used the victory to call for a fight against Joshua.
Joshua, on the otherhand, had previously held the unified heavyweight world titles and is a two-time former world champion.
For now, Lipa is not expected to perform at the event, but her decision has become an unexpected part of the fight buildup to one of the most anticipated fights in recent memory.
