Famous Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu criticized Bucharest mayor Gabriela Firea for trying to gain popularity by awarding sports and culture personalities in Romania.

Gheorghiu wrote a Facebook post saying that she refused to get the Bucharest citizen of honor title from Firea on December 1, 2017, because she didn’t want to be used to boost the Bucharest mayor’s image.

"I have always wanted and still want those honors received from my country to be offered only for my work and for my dedication to art, for my career of 28 years around the world. There are many ways to honor an artist. I invite all Romanian politicians to behave wisely and never use for their own little political interests the great personalities in Romania who achieve great successes and victories," the soprano said in her Facebook post.

Her message came after Gabriela Firea was booed off stage by 20,000 people who gathered on Bucharest’s National Arena on Monday evening to cheer Roland Garros champion Simona Halep. Firea handed Halep the key to the city.

The Bucharest mayor answered to Angela Gheorghiu’s post saying that the soprano actually accepted the citizen of honor title and that she also received a big payout from the municipality for a concert, according to the local media. Firea also said that Gheorghiu allegedly asked her to help her have some local tax debts cancelled.

Angela Gheorghiu reacted once again on Facebook and denied the allegations.

"I'm sorry that the mayor of Bucharest has chosen to answer my message with a series of inaccuracies and insinuations, even with very serious accusations, just because I have the courage to say things by name," reads the soprano's message.

editor@romania-insider.com