A Christian farmer in Northern Ireland who allowed pop star Rihanna to film a music video in his wheat field, asked her to leave when he saw she was half naked.
Farmer Alan Graham also encouraged the global star – infamous for her risqué performances – to seek after God and his Son Jesus Christ.
He has been praised for showing a strength of belief that was once commonplace, and for standing up against “the sexualistion of society and our celebrity culture”.
Inappropriate
Mr Graham said he has no ill will towards the singer, but he asked the film crew to stop shooting the video when things got out of hand.
“I thought it was inappropriate. I requested them to stop and they did,” he explained.
“I had my conversation with Rihanna and I hope she understands where I’m coming from. We shook hands,” he said.
Resurrection
Mr Graham confessed that he had never heard of Rihanna when he was first contacted about using his field for a music video.
He said: “I didn’t know who was coming. If the name ‘Rihanna’ had been mentioned, well, no disrespect but it wouldn’t have meant anything.”
He also said: “Everybody needs to be acquainted with God and to consider his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and his death and Resurrection.”
Conviction
The farmer is well known locally as a Christian, his farm features a barn with Bible verses painted in large lettering on one side.
Commentator Yasmin Alibhai-Brown backed Mr Graham. She said: “In his small, humble way, this farmer demonstrated a kind of strength and conviction that used to be commonplace in society — and which, to our shame, has almost disappeared.”
And she added: “Mr Graham made a brave stand against two of the worst excesses of modern life: the sexualisation of society and our celebrity culture.”