In a press conference in Morocco yesterday, Lebanese singer and performer Myriam Fares has made a questionable statement that caused Egyptians to open fire on her online, and we must say, rightfully so.
During the press conference, one of the reporters asked Myriam why she has been noticeably absent from the Egyptian concert-scene. Her answer was both surprising and illogical.
“Before the revolution, I used to have concerts in Egypt on a frequent basis. But after the revolution, I stopped performing there at all. The reason is that during that time I grew as an artist and and my fees have risen significantly so I became -excuse my honesty- “too much” and the cost of hiring me has become too high for Egypt.” Or in her words; “t2eela 3ala masr”.
Needless to say, Myriam’s words rang a bit too offensive for well… everyone.
People’s Reactions
It wasn’t long before people took it to social media to clap back at Myriam in defense of Egypt. The first to do so were Egyptian celebrities who rushed to school Myriam about how big of a mistake she’s done.
And well, it is safe to say, they didn’t hold back.
Case in point, producer Waleed Mansour criticized her through a Facebook post, comparing her to mega Egyptian singers like Amr Diab, Sherine Abdel Wahab, Hamaky and Tamer Hosny.
Then composer Amir Teima joined in by giving Myriam a quick history lesson on the magnitude and value of Egypt in the entertainment industry in the Arab world and worldwide.
“You’ve made the mistake of your life,” said singer, composer and actor Ahmed Fahmi keeping it short, sweet, and to the point.
Ahmed Fahmi on Twitter: “”بقيتي تقيله علي مصر” 😂😂 اتعلمي من نجوم العالم العربي هتفهمي انك غلطتي غلطة عمرك بالجمله دي .. #هي_دي_مصر_يا_ميريام / Twitter”
“بقيتي تقيله علي مصر” 😂😂 اتعلمي من نجوم العالم العربي هتفهمي انك غلطتي غلطة عمرك بالجمله دي .. #هي_دي_مصر_يا_ميريام
However, the one that really didn’t hold back was singer Ramy Gamal saying “pay me what you owe me first”.
Ramy Gamal on Twitter: “الفنانة اللي بتقول انها بقت تقيله علي مصر ليا عندها فلوس بقالها سنه والله 🤦♂️😁 ادفعيهم الاول يا تقيله 😁😁😁😁 / Twitter”
الفنانة اللي بتقول انها بقت تقيله علي مصر ليا عندها فلوس بقالها سنه والله 🤦♂️😁 ادفعيهم الاول يا تقيله 😁😁😁😁
Of course, fellow celebrities were not the only ones to feel offended and infuriated by Myriam’s statement. People from all around the Arab world, not just Egypt were not about to let this remark pass un-noticed.
People lectured her about the names of celebrities and stars that have come and continue to come to perform in Egypt from all over the world to this very day.
Marshmallow on Twitter: “#ميريام_فارس بتقول انها بقى سعرها غالي وحفلاتها مكلفة فبقت تقيلة على مصر؟ كفاية علي مصر العظماءفيروز الله يشفيهاماجدة الروميعاصي حلانيوائل كفوريحسين الجسميمحمد عبدهعبد الله الرويشدانتي معندكيش جماهيرية عندناودمك سم ومصر كلها نجوممش ناقصاكي#ميريام_فارس_مصر_كبيره_عليكي / Twitter”
ميريام_فارس بتقول انها بقى سعرها غالي وحفلاتها مكلفة فبقت تقيلة على مصر؟ كفاية علي مصر العظماءفيروز الله يشفيهاماجدة الروميعاصي حلانيوائل كفوريحسين الجسميمحمد عبدهعبد الله الرويشدانتي معندكيش جماهيرية عندناودمك سم ومصر كلها نجوممش ناقصاكي#ميريام_فارس_مصر_كبيره_عليكي
People urged her to apologize, and fast.
https://twitter.com/Bayude_BH/status/1142789347508232192
And soon a hashtag that says “Egypt is too big for you” started circulating Twitter and going viral.
sharaf . on Twitter: “#ميريام_فارس_مصر_كبيره_عليكي ميريام فارس تقول : بعد الثورة صار أجري مرتفع ومصر ماتقدر تدفع #بالعربي – ولا شخص بمصر حافظ لك أغنية – ولا مرة سمعت شخص جاب سيرتها في مصر – أي شخص يريد لفت الأنظار يجيب سيرة مصر.#عظيمة_يا_مصر 💪🏽 / Twitter”
ميريام_فارس_مصر_كبيره_عليكي ميريام فارس تقول : بعد الثورة صار أجري مرتفع ومصر ماتقدر تدفع #بالعربي – ولا شخص بمصر حافظ لك أغنية – ولا مرة سمعت شخص جاب سيرتها في مصر – أي شخص يريد لفت الأنظار يجيب سيرة مصر.#عظيمة_يا_مصر 💪🏽
In conclusion, people were furious and DID NOT HOLD BACK.
Rania on Twitter: “#ميريام_فارس_مصر_كبيره_عليكي مصر بلد أم كلثوم وحليم وشاديه ونجاه وعبد الوهاب وعبد المطلب ومحمد فوزي وهاني شاكر ومحمد الحلو مصر اللي اتربي علي أرضها فريد واسمهان وليلي مراد وغيرهم كتير دول ولاد مصر اللي كبروا فيها مش عليها انتي مين ؟ ؟؟ ؟؟ ؟؟ @myriamfares pic.twitter.com/98nqjEj5X8 / Twitter”
ميريام_فارس_مصر_كبيره_عليكي مصر بلد أم كلثوم وحليم وشاديه ونجاه وعبد الوهاب وعبد المطلب ومحمد فوزي وهاني شاكر ومحمد الحلو مصر اللي اتربي علي أرضها فريد واسمهان وليلي مراد وغيرهم كتير دول ولاد مصر اللي كبروا فيها مش عليها انتي مين ؟ ؟؟ ؟؟ ؟؟ @myriamfares pic.twitter.com/98nqjEj5X8
Today, however, Myriam Fares went out of her silence and addressed the issue.
Myriam’s Response
While we were in the process of writing this very article, Myriam Fares released a statement on Twitter addressing what happened and “supposedly” clearing it up.
Myriam Fares on Twitter: “pic.twitter.com/bmwcVJjR2K / Twitter”
pic.twitter.com/bmwcVJjR2K
She justified her statement by saying that this whole thing is nothing but mere miscommunication due to her “Lebanese accent”, then hinted that those who misinterpreted her words are trying to frame her and ruin her image.
However she still then explained her words exactly as people had interpreted them, repeating that all she meant is that her fees became too expensive for concert organizers in Egypt.
She then acknowledged Egypt’s huge role in her success and expressed her constant gratitude and appreciation to Egypt and its people.
She then apologized to the Egyptian people that she “misexpressed” herself.
After looking into the statement Myriam released, we must say we are left even more confused about what exactly she did clear out, seeing how she still confirmed what people had understood which is that her fees are too high to perform in Egypt.
But that’s just what we got. Which doesn’t really make a lot of sense…
Why what Myriam Fares did is not only offensive but also did not make sense?
For starters, this very year where Myriam said that she is too expensive for Egypt, Egypt has had and is still having performances for many mega international stars.
To name a few; Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Artur, Yanni, and Jennifer Lopez. And that’s just from the international side.
From the Arab side, several “A-listers”, including the likes of Nancy Ajram, Ellisa, Ragheb Alama and Wael Gassar, have had more than one concert here.
And those are only a few of the non-Egyptians stars who have come to perform to Egypt. There are, of course, our Egyptian megastars who have had several performances this year alone, like Amr Diab, Tamer Hosny, Mohamed Hamaki and Sherine Abdel Wahab.
So in all honesty, and with no offense to Myriam Fares’s work, it doesn’t really make any sense for the same country that could afford all these stars to not be able to afford her.
That being said, even if in fact, Myriam’s fees were too high for Egypt, it is inappropriate for any public figure to go out and insult an entire nation in public.
Especially, when said nation has a hand in any initial success that public figure had in the first place. Which is, undeniably, the case with Myriam Fares.
