Egyptian actor Ahmed Abdel Aziz sparked a wave of controversy on social media platforms after a video circulated showing him refusing to shake hands with a fan during his participation in the Egyptian-American Festival for Cinema and Arts, held on the evening of Wednesday, August 6, at the Artistic Creativity Center in the Egyptian Opera House.

The incident provoked widespread disappointment and anger among social media users, who criticized the actor's behavior, emphasizing that ignoring a fan’s handshake is unusual and reflects a lack of respect for the audience.

Magdy Sobhi: "I was very upset" Commenting on the incident, actor Magdy Sobhi expressed his strong displeasure with his colleague’s stance, writing on his Facebook account: “I was very upset when I found out what happened. An artist who refuses to shake hands with a fan loses part of his respect for himself before his audience. Personally, when someone wants to take a photo with me, I tell them: ‘Excuse me, I’m the one who wants to take a photo with you.’ An artist must be humble because the audience is the one who loved you and made you successful, and that comes before anything else, even acceptance from God.”

Sherif Madkour: "We need someone to analyze" Meanwhile, media personality Sherif Madkour expressed his shock at the clip, asking: “What is this? Why like this? We need someone to analyze the body language because I feel there is something strange,” hinting that Abdel Aziz’s behavior might carry unclear messages requiring deeper interpretation.

The Egyptian-American Festival saw a prominent attendance of film stars and creators, including actress Elham Shaheen, veteran actor Ahmed Bedeir, director Hany Lashin, writer Amal Osman, and media figure Tarek Allam, alongside numerous leading talents in independent cinema.

During the ceremony, a distinguished group of artistic and cultural figures were honored, including Dr. Ghada Gabara, Father Boutros Daniel, head of the Catholic Cinema Center, critic Magda Morris, and Professor Amir Abaza, president of the Egyptian Association of Film Writers and Critics.

The event also featured a poignant moment with a special tribute to the late actor Lotfi Labib, who passed away on July 30, in recognition of his rich artistic career and significant contributions.