No-one keeps Zahi Hawass, the controversial archaeologist described as Egypt’s
Indiana Jones, waiting. Not even Beyoncé.
Dr Hawass, Egypt’s former head of antiquities and gatekeeper of the Pyramids,
banished Beyoncé from the ancient site after he was sickened by what he described as
the star’s rudeness.
“Most people I take on tours are very nice and we become friends. But this lady…,”
begins Hawass, the former Minister of State for Antiquities, who lost his post during
the 2011 protests and is at the centre of corruption allegations over his work for
National Geographic.
“She said she would come at 3pm but she came late. I said ‘You have to say I’m sorry I
’m late’. But she didn’t open her mouth,” continued Dr Hawass, credited with
modernizing the management of Egypt’s ancient sites and who claims to have
repatriated 6,000 artefacts “stolen” by Western powers.
“I brought a photographer and she also had a photographer and a guard. When my
photographer started to shoot, she said ‘No, Stop! I am the one who says yes or no, not
you.’
I said ‘In that case since you almost hit my photographer and you are not polite –
out! I am not giving you the privilege of having you on my tour.’
I said Beyoncé was stupid and I left.”
Source: According to an interview with UK Independent
No comments:
Post a Comment