Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – The head of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, Turki Al-Sheikh, published a photo with the Egyptian artist, Bayoumi Fouad, on Thursday, days after the controversy raised by Fouad with his speech, which was considered a response to his fellow Egyptian artist, Mohamed Sallam, After the second apologized for participating in a play within the Riyadh season.
Al-Sheikh shared with followers of his page on the “X” platform, formerly Twitter, a picture showing him with Bayoumi Fouad and attached it to a love heart.
Fouad had said that the team of the play “Artificial Marriage,” which was presented during the “Riyadh Season,” was subjected to “insult and great injustice.” He added that they came to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to present their art, and swore that they “don’t have money,” and criticized his fellow artist, Muhammad Salam, who withdrew from the play, without mentioning his name.
A video clip of Bayoumi Fouad was widely circulated on social media platforms, in which he addressed the audience at the end of one of the performances of the play “Artificial Marriage,” in which he appeared emotional while emphasizing the “injustice” that the play’s team was subjected to, as he put it.
Fouad said in the video: “We have been aggrieved, by God, we have been insulted, and we are coming to present art. We do not have money, I swear to God, and by God Almighty, I do not have money. By God Almighty, if this show sat for another 15 days without pay – His Excellency the Chancellor knows – We are honored, and we remain very happy.”
He added: “I came to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with honor, to present our art. We are not coming to laugh. We respect you and you respect us.”
Fouad addressed his colleague Mohamed Salam without mentioning his name, saying: “You have the right to apologize for the play, but you do not have the right to make mistakes in your art. We cannot make you laugh, we present our art.”
Muhammad Sallam had apologized for the play “Artificial Marriage,” indicating that he was not ready to “perform a comedy play and “sing and dance” in light of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to a video he posted on his Facebook page.
The circulating clip of Bayoumi Fouad sparked a wide wave of criticism, while a number of media professionals and tweeters responded to this criticism and defended the Egyptian actor’s point of view.
Below are the most prominent comments on the photo of Al-Sheikh and Fouad:
