Egyptian actor Ahmed Helmy shared on his Instagram Stories a screenshot of a news report from a website claiming that he supported Syrian actor Salim Haddad’s remarks about Egyptian actors being unable to speak Modern Standard Arabic correctly.

Helmy strongly denied the report, issuing a stern warning against linking his name to such matters. He emphasized that he never commented on the issue and that all statements attributed to him regarding it are fabricated.

He wrote: "I never said this, nor did I comment on the matter at all. I hope no one believes anything written or any false claims made. If I want to say something, I will share it on my official social media."

Salim Haddad apologizes Syrian actor Salim Haddad responded to the wave of criticism from some Egyptian stars and the public following the circulation of a video in which he mocked the way some Egyptian actors pronounce Modern Standard Arabic during a cultural seminar.

Haddad clarified in media statements that the circulated clip is old and that he did not intend to insult or belittle Egyptian actors, stating: "What I meant is that some take shortcuts when performing in MSA, but I am certain that Egyptians have long surpassed this stage."

He added: "I apologize to anyone who felt offended by my words. Egyptians are my teachers, pioneers of art, and those who taught us in theater and television. It is not right to diminish their value." Haddad also noted that he does not have any social media accounts and that all pages using his name are fake. He stressed that acknowledging the respect and status of Egyptian actors is paramount, as they serve as role models for all Arab artists.

During the interview, Haddad praised modern Egyptian drama, expressing admiration for the series Al-Hashashin starring Karim Abdel Aziz, which aired during Ramadan 2024. He highlighted director Peter Mimi’s success in making the work accessible to the entire Arab world despite it being in colloquial Arabic, reflecting the significant influence of Egyptian drama.

The beginning of the "Salim Haddad controversy" The circulated video showed Haddad stating that few Egyptian actors master MSA as perfectly as the late Abdullah Gaith and Nour El-Sherif. He added that "most Egyptian actors struggle to pronounce the letter ‘jeem’," and mimicked a scene humorously, which made the audience laugh at the time, but later sparked wide controversy and strong criticism.