Haifa Wehbe Demanded the Deletion of the “Two Videos” Without Success Haifa Wehbe Seeks Financial Compensation of Up to 5 Million Pounds

In a notable legal move, Lebanese artist Haifa Wehbe filed a lawsuit before the Cairo Economic Court against an Egyptian doctor, accusing him of using her image and artistic performance without any legal authorization, and demanding financial compensation amounting to up to 5 million Egyptian pounds, in a case her legal team described as a clear violation of intellectual property protection laws.

Behind the Scenes of the Incident

Legal advisor Sherif Hafez, Haifa Wehbe’s lawyer, explained that his client visited one of the medical centers affiliated with the doctor in question in April 2023, solely to obtain a medical consultation, with no advertising agreements or commercial arrangements involved.

He clarified that during the visit, the center’s administration filmed two video clips of the artist, on the basis that they would be used only once to support the center’s activity, without signing any contracts or legal documents permitting their future reuse or publication.

Republishing Without Consent

The defense team stated that the doctor later went on to publish the two videos across several social media platforms, most notably Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, without consulting Haifa Wehbe or obtaining her explicit consent, which was considered a clear legal violation.

The lawyer emphasized that this conduct constitutes unlawful exploitation of a legally protected artistic performance and represents a direct infringement of the moral and artistic rights guaranteed to artists under the law.

Failed Amicable Attempts

Hafez added that the artist attempted more than once to resolve the matter amicably, as official requests were made through her business manager to remove the videos; however, these requests were ignored, prompting her to resort to the judiciary to safeguard her image and rights.

Compensation and an Ongoing Case

Haifa Wehbe’s defense stressed that the incident caused her material, moral, and emotional harm due to the illegal commercial exploitation of her image, noting that the lawsuit includes a civil compensation claim of 5 million pounds.

The case remains under consideration before the Cairo Economic Court, pending the outcome of upcoming hearings in accordance with the law.