'We don't need your love': Lebanese superstar Elissa triggers wrath of prominent Saudi official

The singer prompted the wrath of the Saudi official after responding to a tweet by a fan who had asked Al-Sheikh to invite Elissa to an upcoming event in Riyadh.

"When you want to see me in concert, it will happen if the time is right. You don’t have to ask anyone for it because I am where I deserve to be," the Lebanese singer said in response to the request.

Al-Sheikh seemingly took offence to the tweet and responded directly to Elissa saying "that is why you do not deserve to be invited".

The Lebanese singer promptly responded the Saudi official accusing him of misunderstanding the situation.

"Thank you, Mr. adviser. I am not to blame if my words were misunderstood. In any case, nothing can change my love for the Saudi people," she said.

Though the tension at this point could be cut with a knife, the Saudi official hit back once more saying "we are not waiting for your love, keep your love to yourself".

Elissa's music career has spanned nearly three decades, starting off after she won a silver medal on Lebanese talent show "Studio El Fan" in 1992.

In August, she surprised fans by announcing that she will be retiring from making music after her next album is released, in a statement on Twitter which blasted the record industry.

"I am preparing this new album with a lot of love and passion. The reason is that it will be the last one in my career," the 46-year-old wrote on Twitter.

"I am announcing this with a heavy heart but with a lot of conviction because I can't work in a field that is similar to mafias. I can't be productive anymore."

The songstress didn't elaborate on why she had likened the music industry to a criminal organisation, but it isn't the first time she has hit out at the music business.

Late last year Elissa hit out at her record label, Rotana, saying the company had "blocked" her content from Lebanon-based music streaming service Anghami after her label had made a deal with music streaming service Deezer.

Last year the star revealed to fans that she had been battling with breast cancer, urging others to get screened for the illness.

"I only revealed my condition after I became healthy again. I wouldn’t have done it while I was going through it," Elissa told The National in June. "I did it at the end to encourage people to know about this condition". 

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