Syrian actor Salloum Haddad responded to a wave of criticism from several Egyptian stars and audiences after a circulated video showed him mocking the way some Egyptian actors pronounce classical Arabic during a cultural seminar.

In media statements, Haddad clarified that the circulated clip is old, stressing that he never intended to insult or belittle Egyptian artists. He said: “What I meant was that some performers take classical Arabic lightly, but I am certain that Egyptians moved past this stage a long time ago.” He added: “I apologize to anyone who felt offended by my words. Egyptians are my teachers, the pioneers and masters of art, the ones who taught us in theater and television. I would never diminish their value.”

“The stature of Egyptians is preserved”

The Syrian actor also pointed out that he does not have any social media accounts and that all pages under his name are fake, adding: “The price of dignity is an apology.” He emphasized that the stature of Egyptian artists is always preserved, noting that they remain role models for every Arab actor.

In his remarks, Haddad also praised recent Egyptian drama, expressing admiration for the series “Al-Hashasheen” starring Karim Abdel Aziz, which aired during Ramadan 2024. He noted that director Peter Mimi succeeded in bringing the work to audiences across the Arab world despite presenting it in colloquial dialect, reflecting the wide influence of Egyptian drama.

The beginning of “Salloum Haddad’s controversy”

The circulated video had shown Haddad saying that only a few Egyptian actors mastered classical Arabic pronunciation, such as the late Abdullah Gheith and Nour El Sherif. He went on to add that “most Egyptian actors struggle with pronouncing the letter ‘jeem’” before imitating a scene in a mocking way, which at the time drew laughter from the audience but later sparked widespread backlash and criticism.

Some Egyptian actors, including Mohamed Ali Rizk and Amr Mahmoud Yassin, described his remarks as “a lapse unworthy of his artistic stature” and “an unacceptable transgression.” Others, however, urged not to exaggerate the issue, considering his public apology sufficient and reflective of his deep respect for Egyptian art and its pioneers.