In a notable humanitarian gesture that followed a public controversy, Danish visual artist Lisa Nelson announced that she had accepted the apology of Egyptian TV presenter Maha El Sagheer, after the latter was accused of claiming artwork — including one by Nelson — as her own during a televised appearance.

Despite the uproar, Nelson chose the path of forgiveness, stating that the “ethical and media backlash Maha is currently facing is punishment enough,” and called on the public to show compassion rather than harsh judgment.

Nelson’s Statement: Forgiveness with a Warning

In a lengthy Instagram post on her official account, Nelson revealed that she had received over 15,000 messages and comments within days of her initial post, along with hundreds of inquiries from journalists and lawyers around the world offering support. She mentioned she had also appeared on several Arabic and Danish programs to discuss the incident.

With a humane tone, she apologized to those she hadn’t been able to respond to due to the overwhelming volume of messages. She emphasized the need to raise awareness about the rights of artists.

Support and Solidarity from Egypt

Nelson expressed deep appreciation for the outpouring of support she received from Egypt, describing the responses as “warm and respectful.” She stated:

“I truly appreciate the heartfelt messages I’ve received from the kind people of Egypt... Please don’t feel guilty — such a mistake could happen anywhere in the world.”

She confirmed that she had direct communication with Maha El Sagheer and the production team of the show Ma'akum Mona El Shazly, noting that the TV channel was unaware the artwork was not El Sagheer’s. She added that Maha had offered a genuine personal apology, saying:

“What Maha is going through right now is difficult enough… I hope people can forgive her.”

A Stern Warning Against Future Violations

While she accepted the apology, Nelson stressed the dangers of violating artists’ rights, especially in the face of modern challenges such as AI and content theft. She wrote:

“We work incredibly hard to create work that represents us — and often we don’t earn much from it. Taking advantage of others’ talents and dreams is simply unacceptable.”

She ended her post with a powerful message to all creatives — artists, photographers, musicians, writers, and designers — urging them to protect their work:

“Silence encourages those who don’t respect creativity. Defend your art and your dreams.”

Between Ethical Accountability and a Call for Grace

Nelson’s statement struck a chord with the public, many of whom praised her balanced stance. Commentators viewed the incident as a moment to reconsider standards of artistic attribution, while also embracing the importance of grace and growth through honest mistakes.