Jennifer Lopez has apologized for singing "Happy Birthday" to the leader of Turkmenistan during a show, claiming that she was unaware that there were human rights issues in the country.
A statement released on Sunday said that the event in the former Soviet bloc country had been hosted by the China National Petroleum Corp and wasn't a political event, CBS News reported.
However, Turkmensitan leader, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who has been criticized for oppressive rule by human rights organizations, attended the show.
The 43-year-old pop diva's publicist said that the event was vetted by her staff.
The statement read that the birthday serenade was a last-minute request that was made by the corporation to Lopez before she took the stage, and she obliged.
Human Rights Watch has called Turkmenistan as one of the most repressive in the world.
