Selena Gomez, who graced Russia’s Elle Magazine's cover earlier this year, has scrapped plans to perform in Russia next week.

Selena Gomez had to scrap plans to perform in St. Petersburg on September 23 and in Moscow on September 24 after she was denied a Russian visa. Before one of Selena Gomez’s representatives confirmed that the singer will be skipping Russia an online campaign was growing to get Selena Gomez to speak out against Russia’s anti-gay legislation.

John Becker, a Selena Gomez fan from Washington, D.C., started a petition on Change.org saying “Singer Selena Gomez is a talented, award-winning pop superstar with a Top 10 album and multiple hit singles under her belt, as well as a worldwide following of devoted fans. By speaking out, Selena can let LGBT folks in Russia know that we stand with them, and that they are not alone.”

Selena Gomez would have joined Cher, Elton John and Lady Gaga who have also stood against Russia’s new legislation that targeted stars like Madonna who they say used concerts to promote gay rights.

Selena Gomez’s people said the cancellations were due to visa delays.

A representative fromRussian Entertainment Academy, who organized the concerts, told the RIA-Novosti news agency that "Up to the last moment, we thought the problem would be resolved, but it turned out that things aren't so simple in our country.”

Selena Gomez attended the Los Angeles gay pride festival earlier this year.

The legislation was proposed by Vitaly Milonov who also backs a new law that would ban promotion of homosexuality to minors. President Vladimir Putin signed the legislation in June. Milonov denied any responsibility for the Selena Gomez cancellations. Milonov told Business FM radio that he "would also have liked to go" to her show.