The Serbian singer released a three-minute video on TikTok in which she rejects criticism and claims she is the victim of an organized campaign, while her performance scheduled for August 15 at the Hacienda club remains contested.
Faced with an avalanche of criticism over her announced concert in Vodice on the Feast of the Assumption, Jelena Karleuša has decided to speak out publicly. On Monday, August 10, 2026, the Serbian singer posted a three-minute video on TikTok titled "Regarding My Performance in Vodice," in which she directly addressed the Croatian public and rejected all accusations.
In the video, Karleuša claims she is the target of a coordinated attack on social media. "On social media, I notice targeting through bots, appeals to various groups and institutions, as well as the sharing of edited and inaccurate clips of my statements," the singer said. She added that these materials deliberately distort the original context of her words, aiming to portray her as someone who speaks against a nation.
She also addressed the numerous posts spreading across the internet these days, which are being used as arguments against her. "In recent days, numerous alleged screenshots, quotes, and statements attributed to me have been published, which I have never uttered or written in my life," Karleuša said, rejecting the authenticity of these materials.
The singer clarified that her earlier controversial statements were directed exclusively at political circles in the context of specific social and political crises. "They were never aimed against the Croatian people or any other nation," she emphasized. She repeated this thought several times during her address, stressing: "Jelena Karleuša is not an enemy of the Croatian people, nor of any people. I am not someone who comes to provoke or to be a symbol of any political conflict."
She also recalled her long career in Croatia, where, as she says, she regularly performs and holds great respect for the audience. "I never came to provoke, divide people, or send political messages to anyone. I came solely as an artist to sing to people who listen to and love my music," she said in the video.
As the best proof that she has nothing against Croats, Karleuša cited the lyrics of her song "Balkan Boy." She emphasized that in that very song, she mentioned Croatia "in the most beautiful possible context." She concluded her address with an appeal to the audience not to fall for provocations. "I have never divided people by nationality, and I won't start now," the 47-year-old singer pointed out.
Despite Karleuša's address, opposition to her arrival shows no signs of abating. The mayor of Vodice, Ante Cukrov, had already commented on the case earlier. "It is inappropriate. We are not responsible for private properties, only for public spaces. We have nothing against anyone, and everyone is welcome in the town of Vodice; however, this is about the name and surname of a person who has publicly made negative comments about our country, and for that reason alone, she is not welcome," Cukrov told Nacional.
The concert is still scheduled for August 15 at the Hacienda club. Organizers have announced that the club doors will open at 11 p.m., with the performance expected to begin at midnight, i.e., August 16.
