Egyptian pop star Amr Diab is facing legal action after a controversial incident in which he slapped a fan during a high-profile wedding in Cairo. The incident, widely circulated on social media, has sparked mixed reactions, with many accusing Diab of being arrogant and rude to his fans.
The altercation occurred during the wedding of the daughter of film producer Mohamed Saady. While performing, Diab was approached by a man who attempted to take a selfie. Caught on camera, Diab slapped the man in the face, leading to his bodyguards intervening and pushing the man back. The superstar then left the scene.
The fallout from the incident has escalated into a legal battle. An Egyptian court is scheduled next month to review a lawsuit filed by over 50 lawyers against Diab. The lawsuit, brought by a team mostly from Luxor, the claimant’s hometown, seeks one billion Egyptian pounds (about US$ 21 million) in compensation for “emotional distress and public humiliation.” The first trial session is set for 30 July.
In his complaint, Diab accused the fan of forcibly grabbing him and placing a mobile phone in his face. The two men subsequently filed police reports against each other. Legal experts suggest that if Diab is found guilty, he could face a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to a one-year sentence and/or a financial penalty of up to one million EGP. However, Diab’s defense team may argue that he acted in self-defense, claiming harassment, with the footage set to be analyzed by criminal lab experts.
The incident has polarized social media users, with some defending Diab’s actions as a natural response to inappropriate behavior by the fan. Others have criticized the internationally acclaimed 62-year-old singer, labeling him as arrogant and disrespectful. Fellow artists and fans have joined the debate, with some mocking the singer through memes and doctored videos.
This is not Diab’s first brush with controversy. In December 2021, he was criticized for enabling sexual harassment in a TV commercial for a Citroën car, leading the French company to pull the ad. Known as “El-Hadaba” (the plateau) due to his immense popularity and status, Diab has often refrained from media interactions, purportedly due to a lack of eloquence. Despite the controversy, Diab remains one of the richest and most successful singers of his generation. His career in commercial pop music began in the early 1980s, and he has since amassed a large fan base, with over 22 million followers on his Facebook page. As the legal proceedings unfold, Diab’s reputation and future career could be significantly impacted.