The Serbian singer announced she will open a new Instagram profile on her birthday, shortly after her performance in Dalmatia was canceled for security reasons.
Jelena Karleuša took to social media with an unexpected announcement just days after her planned concert in Vodice was officially canceled. The Serbian singer told her fans that she will open a brand-new Instagram profile on her birthday, August 17, 2026.
Karleuša shared the brief post on the social media platform X on August 11. "On my birthday, August 17, I will open a new Instagram profile," she wrote, adding a broken heart emoji. The news quickly sparked a wave of positive reactions from her followers, who welcomed the decision to return to the platform where her previous profile had a large following.
This announcement came after turbulent days in the Croatian public sphere. Karleuša was scheduled to perform on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, at the Hacienda club in Vodice. Due to reactions that, according to the organizers, "far exceeded the scope of a musical event at a private club," the concert was canceled.
The decision was first confirmed by the mayor of Vodice, Ante Cukrov, and then the club itself issued an official statement. "No performer and no event are more important than the safety of our guests and employees. We thank our guests for their understanding," Hacienda said via social media.
In an interview with the Serbian daily Informer TV, Karleuša spoke at length for the first time about the concert cancellation. She claimed that Croatian media treated her as a political threat rather than a musician coming to perform for her audience. "I think that's really ugly, first and foremost. Music and politics should never go together. When I was supposed to hold that concert in Croatia, the mere announcement caused an incredible uproar. In all their news, it was the top story, as if I were coming to give political speeches or impose something on someone, not as an artist who deals exclusively with music and spending time with fans," Karleuša said.
She added that she was surprised by the amount of media attention and the "hatred bordering on madness." She also commented on the reactions of veterans' associations, which were among those calling for the cancellation of her performance. "It turns out that one woman and singer represents a huge problem for their organizations-if I understood correctly, some veterans' associations. They saw me as a threat, even though a lot of time has passed since their Homeland War, as they call it. I was a child then and have nothing to do with it," she said.
As one of the main reasons for the harsh reactions in Croatia, she cited her public support for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. "As far as I understood, the biggest problem was my clear, human support for our, Serbian president. They were bothered by the fact that I openly showed patriotism and stood up for my country when it started being attacked. It seems I don't have the right to do that. I don't like someone imposing opinions on me or telling me what I can and cannot do, and who I can support. That's exactly why I'm known as an outspoken artist who has often suffered for her views. Still, I repeat that I have never had anything against any people, but I do have clear political views," Karleuša stated.
