Jennifer Lopez Cancels Controversial North Cyprus Show

First Published: July 9, 2010 8:55 AM EDT Credit: Getty Images

NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Caption Jennifer Lopez arrives at the World Music Awards 2010 held at the Sporting Club Monte Carlo in Monte-Carlo, Monaco on May 18, 2010Singer Jennifer Lopez called off a controversial show in the breakaway north of Cyprus, provoking celebrations by Greek Cypriots while Turkish Cypriots denounced the move.

Reports that Lopez would perform at a luxury hotel in the north on her 41st birthday this month triggered a Greek Cypriot online campaign pushing for cancellation.

Greek Cypriots on Friday hailed Lopez’s withdrawal “a victory”. They saw her appearance as helping legitimize the island’s division. It was split into a Greek speaking south and a Turkish speaking north in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Turkish Cypriots called the cancellation part of a Greek Cypriot campaign to keep them isolated.

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