(CNN) -- American pop star Jennifer Lopez is catching all sorts of heat after her Saturday performance of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to one of the world's most notorious dictators, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. "It was our pleasure, and we wish you the very, very happiest birthday," Lopez says in a YouTube video of the performance. Statements like that feel gross, of course, if you know that Berdymukhamedov has been accused of imprisoning political dissidents, imposing "draconian restrictions on freedom of expression and association," says Human Rights Watch, and, according to The Atlantic, ordering his goons to kill or get rid of stray cats.
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Singer Jennifer Lopez draws criticism for her performance in Turkmenistan
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John Sutter says the "Happy Birthday" concert actually was productive
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He says Lopez inadvertently lent her celebrity to raising awareness about human rights
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Sutter: "a diva's visit with a despot can raise more than awareness"
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J-Lo's concert in Turkmenistan may at least give the rest of us a chance to learn something about a desperate nation that never would make @placeholder headlines if not for such a celebrity appearance.
Turkmenistan
Additionally: "Employment and educational opportunities for ethnic minorities are limited by the government's promotion of @placeholder national identity.
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• @placeholder condemns Turkmenistan for imprisoning and silencing political opposition figures.
Turkmenistan
It would be easy to argue Lopez's performance served only to legitimize @placeholder's government.
Turkmenistan
In effect, that would mean @placeholder's dictator unwillingly is funding human rights efforts.