Recent reports circulating online about Lebanese singer Maya Diab being kidnapped and assaulted are inaccurate, according to Egyptian media personality Mohamed El-Gheity. He clarified that the incident is not connected to the current events unfolding in Lebanon.
El-Gheity addressed the confusion during his program “Al-Bisma” on Al-Shams 2 channel, noting that Diab’s name had been trending on social media following headlines about the alleged kidnapping and assault. He initially believed the news might be related to the ongoing security situation in Lebanon.
“When I first read the headline, I imagined it had something to do with the events happening in Lebanon now, especially with the displacement and security instability,” El-Gheity said. “But after following the details, it turned out the incident wasn’t recent.”
He explained that Diab was recounting an older incident, detailing a kidnapping that lasted between eight and twelve hours, during which she was assaulted by a group attempting to extort her for ransom. The clarification comes as many social media users connected the reports to the current unrest in the region, a connection El-Gheity refuted.
El-Gheity also pointed out that some news outlets mistakenly presented the story as a current event, emphasizing that Diab herself clarified the incident occurred in the past. This incident highlights the importance of verifying information before it spreads online, particularly in times of regional instability.
Speaking about the situation in Lebanon, El-Gheity expressed deep sympathy for the Lebanese people, describing the events there as a painful humanitarian tragedy.
“I have many friends who are Lebanese artists, and I have worked with some of them and visited their homes in Lebanon. They are currently living in a state of great tension, anxiety, and sadness,” he stated. He added that the humanitarian situation in Lebanon is extremely difficult, noting that most Lebanese families have relatives in the South, which increases the sense of worry and fear among citizens.
El-Gheity concluded by reiterating the pain experienced by the Lebanese people, saying, “Hearts are broken by what is happening, and there is hardly a family in Beirut or Tripoli that does not have relatives in the South, which makes everyone live in a state of sadness and anxiety.”
