Dua Lipa Backs Albanian Protests Over Kushner Island Resort

British singer Dua Lipa has publicly backed the "Flamingo Revolution," a wave of protests in Albania against a £1.2 billion luxury resort project known as "Kushner Island." The development, led by investors including Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, is planned for an environmentally sensitive island nature reserve. Lipa criticized the Albanian government on her Service95 Book Club podcast, specifically questioning the principle of removing environmental protections without public consultation.

Demonstrations escalated in late May after reports of bulldozers and fencing appearing on beaches. The movement has evolved into a broader protest against government corruption, with tens of thousands of citizens demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Members of the European Parliament have warned that the project could jeopardize Albania's aspirations to join the European Union.

In response to the unrest, the Albanian government has agreed to launch an official investigation into the law changes and conduct a full environmental assessment. However, reports on the project's current status remain conflicted; local officials deny that development has begun, while some residents claim construction equipment is already on-site.