Worldwide superstar Psy was booed throughout the performance of his mega-hit “Gangnam Style” during the pregame festivities for the Italian Cup final between AS Roma and SS Lazio Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Sunday.

The event organizers responded to the unexpected crowd reaction by raising the volume of the music, but the audience kept disrupting the performance, shouting their own chants and lighting off small fireworks. 

Psy seemed embarrassed and shocked for a second but remained professional. He told the audience afterward, “I love Italy,” in Italian, but he was met with even more boos. It was unclear if the booing was of a racist nature or an expression of discontent with the organizers for inviting someone unrelated to soccer. Fans of both clubs have already received several warnings this season for racist chants.

Meanwhile, Psy will mark his first visit to Indonesia in July. He is invited to perform at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex in Jakarta on July 6, according to YG Entertainment. The concert is to commemorate the 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

By Suh Hye-rim (sheren6735@heraldcorp.com)