The Heir Apparent Trap: Lindsay Lohan strikes 'friendship' with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman

Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan has reportedly cosied up to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been blamed as the mastermind behind the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Rumours allege the controversial prince has been flying Lohan around in his jets and even gifted her with her own credit card, according to Page Six.

The platform reported it had investigated the relationship with members of Lohan’s inner circle who confirmed the pair “know each other” while friends of the actress claim they have seen text messages between the two 

However, a representative, who denied the gifting of a credit card and the text messaging, suggested the two have only met once during a Formula One Grand Prix race last year.

On insider said Arab dignitaries “go crazy for her out there”  in the Middle East, where Lohan has relocated in recent years.

Lohan, a former child star who appeared in hit films like The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, has in recent years publicly declared her interest in Islam, confirming rumours she was studying the religion, but shying away from claims that she has converted.

The actress has also been pictured wearing a headscarf and holding the Quran.

Last year, she announced she would be taking a leading role in a new "female empowerment" movie being filmed in Saudi Arabia.

The former Hollywood wild child, who now splits her time between New York and Dubai, will star in Frame, directed by Abu Dhabi-based filmmaker Nancy Paton.

Speaking to UAE daily The National, Paton said Frame will be the first movie to embrace the nascent reforms of Saudi society, as well as the gradual liberalisation of women's rights in the kingdom. 

"Female empowerment is high on the [Saudi] agenda with the development of women driving from June 2018," she said. 

"Frame will be one of the first Saudi bilingual films that comes out from the country after women start driving and cinema returns, and it will completely focus on female empowerment."

The film will star Lohan as Annabelle, an American photographer who accepts a teaching job at a women-only Saudi university. After moving to the kingdom, Annabelle questions her views on women, marriage and feminism as she mixes with Saudi women.

The announcement came after the ultra-conservative kingdom announced it was lifting its decades-long ban on cinemas.

On Twitter, Lohan praised the MbS-led reform at the time, saying: "Please support this incredible movement."

But despite the reforms, which this week suggested Saudi women may soon be able to travel to university abroad without a male guardian, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince has failed to shake off criticism.

The loosening of restrictions for Saudi women has taken place during a massive crackdown on women's rights activists and the killing of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose murder has been pinned onto the crown prince, according to reports by the UN and the CIA.

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