It only took one month for the Egyptian street to explode, whether in the media, social networking sites, or at the cultural and artistic levels, over the controversial video that Mohamed Salam released before showing a comedy play during the Riyadh Season, where the aforementioned artist demanded the suspension of artistic works and the cancellation of the Riyadh Season activities or At the very least, the season was postponed due to the events in Gaza, which sparked dissatisfied reactions, after news emerged indicating that Salam had already begun participating in filming the next part of the comedy series “The Big Awi,” despite the fact that the Gaza war is still at its height of escalation.
Those interested in the issue believe that Mohamed Salam was looking for some kind of media appearance and to rise to the trends on social networking sites, while others justified that Salam was the victim of an emotional situation, despite his failure to apologize for what happened to him more than a full month after he published the video, and the famous Egyptian journalist Amr opened up about it. Adeeb fired at Muhammad Salam insinuating that the artist was looking for political gain at the expense of innocents and children in Gaza, saying: “He is bidding on the Riyadh season, and this is unacceptable, because Saudi Arabia’s position supports the Palestinian cause from the beginning of the resistance until the last moment.”
While Amr Samir Atef wrote a post on Facebook addressed to his colleagues, media professionals, and all those interested in art, regarding the artist Mohamed Salam, asking several fundamental questions, saying: “I want someone to understand me. Do you think that theater in these circumstances in general is wrong? Or is it not theater in Saudi Arabia specifically that is wrong?” And the rest is normal? I mean, for example, if a play is currently being shown in the National Theater, is it acceptable? And if the same play travels to Saudi Arabia, then it is not acceptable? Why? Is there anything preventing an Egyptian artist from traveling to give a concert in Dubai or Morocco for a reasonable fee, but if the same artist goes to Saudi Arabia? A traitor and joins the boycott list? Also, what is the difference between, for example, a comedy film currently being shown in cinemas in Egypt and an Egyptian comedy play being shown in Saudi Arabia?
Egyptian artists and intellectuals confirmed that what Mohamed Salam did hurt and embarrassed all his fellow actors, as he indirectly showed them to the audience that they are not honorable and without emotions and that the Palestinian issue does not concern them.
Art critic Tariq Al-Shennawi stressed that he did not accept what was done by Muhammad Salam, and that this behavior should not be generalized in artistic culture, explaining that Salam should have carried out his artistic message and donated its full wages to those affected by Gaza, indicating that this positive action will reflect the value of art in crises and will encourage… He will encourage his fellow artists to do so.
Scriptwriter Sayed Fouad agreed with El-Shenawy’s opinion, saying in a message he sent on his Facebook page: “You created an embarrassment for your colleagues, and with all due respect for your position, it would have been better professionally for you to apologize for work, as you do with many films, plays, and series, and return the deposit, and not create an embarrassment for your colleagues.” In the same play or other plays.
