A recent on-air exchange between Egyptian media personality Yasmin Ezz and veteran actor Mohamed Sobhy has sparked public debate following Sobhy’s criticism of the Saudi-led Riyadh Season festival. Ezz delivered a pointed rebuke to Sobhy during her program “Ye Tarraf” on Al-Nahar TV, accusing him of disrespect toward Saudi Arabia and attempting to deflect attention from a separate incident involving his driver. The exchange highlights increasing scrutiny of public figures’ commentary on regional cultural events and potential sensitivities surrounding diplomatic relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, key allies in the Middle East. The incident occurred during a segment discussing Sobhy’s recently released film, “Witness for the Prosecution,” adapted from Agatha Christie’s work.
Egyptian media personality Yasmin Ezz publicly cautioned actor Mohamed Sobhy during a recent broadcast of her program, following his comments regarding Riyadh Season.
“If you want to offer your artistic opinion, do so,” Ezz stated, “but when you speak about a brotherly and great country like Saudi Arabia, know your limits and adhere to the manners and ethics we were raised with – the ones you constantly boast about.”
She continued, “Know your limits and be mindful of what you say when you speak about the holiest places on Earth, where our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, rests. This is the land of the Two Holy Mosques, the cradle of revelation, the qibla of two billion Muslims. You are speaking about the land of the Prophet, and you must know exactly what you’re saying, because this is a significant misstep in your entire history. If a camel has a flaw, then God Almighty would not have commanded His prophet to ‘let her go, for she is commanded.’”
Ezz also addressed ongoing distractions from a separate incident involving Sobhy’s driver. “Enough with the desperate attempts to divert attention from the driver story and gain sympathy. The film has been out for two months – why decide to share your opinion now, after the story about the driver chasing you in a car? We didn’t hear your voice before. May God silence your voice and cause discord between two peoples so we forget the driver incident. And you must know that we will not forget that inhumane sight.”
