Cardi B lauds Saudi Arabia’s cleanliness and strict rules, says America feels ‘ghetto’ by comparison

Rapper Cardi B highlighted life in Saudi Arabia as notably “cleaner” than life in the United States, even as she described the kingdom as “very strict” and enforcing rules that can result in jail time. In a livestream from Riyadh, she said, “They ain’t playing around. Yeah, you will go to prison,” while noting that the rules are straightforward to follow. She acknowledged she was initially hesitant to visit because of restrictions on women and LGBTQ people, but suggested that attitudes have shifted since then. She described Saudi Arabia as bright and clean and credited reforms in recent years, such as allowing women to drive in 2018, even though she said other restrictions remain in place.

During the stream, Cardi B also cited specific constraints, saying, “Can’t wear no crosses or nothing,” and that, in her words, “They don’t be playing over here.” She contrasted life in the kingdom with the United States, telling followers that “Americans don’t be respecting other people’s stuff” and stressing that visitors must show respect. She argued that Americans lack courtesy and described the United States as “ghetto” and “dusty,” while insisting that Saudi Arabia is “so clean.” She added that she hadn’t seen homelessness in public spaces there, a sharp contrast to public life in parts of the United States. At times she suggested that religious expression is more tightly controlled in public, remarking on the absence of openly worn crucifixes and the expectation to adhere to local norms.

The remarks come as part of a broader pattern of American performers taking overseas stages in Saudi Arabia, a trend that drew scrutiny earlier this year as critics questioned the ethics of exposing audiences to high-profile performances within a country amid ongoing human-rights debates. Saudi authorities continue to face international criticism over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, even as reforms have expanded social and cultural life in some respects. The new openness in entertainment, sports and tourism sits alongside persistent constraints on public conduct and religious expression, which remained central to the conversation around such visits.

Later, Cardi B posted a video after returning to the United States that seemed to reflect a sense of unease about the contrast between the two countries. In the clip, she appeared distressed, set to audio of babies crying and a woman speaking in a foreign language, and she captioned the moment with a pointed remark about what she was returning to back home.

Representatives for Cardi B did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Fox News Digital reached out for input, but no statement was provided for this report. The episode underscores the ongoing debate in popular culture about celebrities performing in Saudi Arabia and how such appearances intersect with concerns about rights, reform and image management in the region. The dynamic illustrates a broader trend in which artists and entertainers weigh artistic opportunity against questions of personal and political risk—and the optics of their audiences at home and abroad.

As the Saudi entertainment scene continues to attract global talent, observers say this decade-long push to diversify cultural offerings is part of a larger effort to reshape the kingdom’s international profile. Whether that comes at the expense of broader civil liberties remains a frequent point of discussion among critics, fans and industry professionals alike. The unfolding narrative around Cardi B’s comments adds another chapter to the broader conversation about culture, commerce and influence in the era of global celebrity tours.