Kanye West seems to have a great demand in Saudi Arabia. The singer who usually faces criticism for his opinions in the Western world may be honored for the same in the Arab kingdom. They are offering him a whopping $1 million for doing so, provided that he emerges as a winner. This would be a good exception for him since Australia has been wanting to ban him from entering their country.

To improve its image on the international stage, Saudi Arabia wants to boost tourism by sending a positive message. They are achieving this by concentrating on international celebrities, inviting them through various competitions, and a promise of modern luxury for the rich. Here is a look at their latest initiative.

Kanye West could be million dollars richer if Saudi Arabia admires his freedom of speech

Saudi Arabia “has a branding problem,” according to a Saudi Tourism Authority representative. It is not exactly a place known for its freedom of speech. But the kingdom is making an effort to better things, to gain international respect, and invite high-level tourism. They are doing so by introducing an award for freedom of speech. They have shortlisted celebrities like Kanye West, French director Roman Polanski, and American artist Carl Andre. The prize money for this award would be 3,753,760 Saudi Riyadh, which makes an approximate amount of $1 million.

A spokesperson of Saudi Arabia Tourism revealed to HyperAllergic the need for change in how the Kingdom is seen. Although the competition does have one condition. While it encourages freedom of speech, the participant cannot speak against the Kingdom. Even the prize money shall not be used for any such purpose. While the Kingdom struggles with its reputation for human rights violations, it wants to make a good impression now. It also hosted a camel race recently with Will Smith attending the luxurious event.

Now, this is not the first time that the Saudi Prince has made a monetary offer to Ye.

Ye was once offered $1 million by the Saudi Prince

In a controversial statement, the Saudi Prince once offered $1 million to Kanye West. But not to perform for a concert or rap, but to let Prince spend a night with Ye’s former wife Kim Kardashian. He admired her beauty and called her ‘invaluable’. Neither the SKIMS owner nor the rapper commented on this statement, but the Prince invited a lot of backlash from feminist groups for his offer. As for this the latest awards, it remains to be seen whether Ye will win it.

What do you think of Kanye West winning the freedom of speech award? Share your opinions in the comments.