Syrian artist Talal Mardini responded to the ongoing debate between Syrian and Lebanese artists in a statement to a media outlet.
Mardini stated that discussions tinged with racism and the division between Syrians and Lebanese have become "a mockery and a lack of decorum," adding that the situation has escalated beyond what is necessary, without specifying whom he was addressing. He considered it disgraceful to judge an entire country based on individual behaviors or actions, stating that a person at a checkpoint does not fully represent Lebanese public security as he described. He continued by affirming that most of his friends are Lebanese and he holds them in high regard, naming Sirine Abdel Nour, Youssef Al Khal, Tony Issa, and Dalida Khalil. He concluded by saying, "We have never referred to each other as Lebanese or Syrian; the people who have nothing to contribute are the ones who speak with racism."
Only a few hours after his initial statements, Mardini took to his Facebook page to clarify that his words were misrepresented, asserting that he did not intend to insult any artists, stating: "What I meant in my distorted and edited interview is that the media is the one inciting strife between Syrian and Lebanese stars, as denoted by the word 'mockery.' I did not mean to insult any stars, whether Lebanese or Syrian; on the contrary, I was just talking about the media that stirs tensions between artists, and I was in the process of defending the star who is asked embarrassing questions and forced to answer them," emphasizing that he is a victim and did not intend to offend his colleagues.
Syria's artist Abed Al-Hadi Sabagh also commented on the ongoing dispute, stating that his experience in Lebanon was different and that he lived for six years in the capital, Beirut, where he encountered only good treatment from Lebanese people.
Social media sites circulated an old statement by artist Ayman Rida, who claimed that Lebanese people exploit Syrian talents, expressing: "In Lebanon, they steal from us and treat us poorly, even regarding salaries, looking down on Syrians, despite all their money being in banks from Syria." He added that Lebanese people treat Syrians disrespectfully, and despite Syria having kept its doors open to everyone, the movement of Syrian actors to Lebanon brought significant fame to Lebanese artists, who had worked for decades without recognition.
Ayman Rida later apologized in a video on his personal Facebook page, clarifying that he did not intend to generalize and that his remarks referred to only a small group. He added: "I cannot generalize; that would be extremely foolish. In any case, if there's a misunderstanding, I apologize," emphasizing that his comments stemmed from a humanitarian perspective, noting the suffering of Syrians in camps or disrespectful treatment at Lebanese borders. He recounted a personal experience of being stopped by security at the border while traveling to Lebanon with his family, where he was told, "What are you doing here? You’ve tired us out," emphasizing that the incident impacted him deeply and compelled him to speak out in that interview.
Recently, Lebanese artist Ward Khall stirred controversy on social media after a video from an interview on November 24 of last year resurfaced, being described as "racist remarks." Responding, Khall stated in a phone call with "Fuchsia" that "many Syrian actors were not well-known until they took leading roles from Lebanon," adding, "I expressed my opinion regarding joint productions, and this is a factual reality; I did not say anything strange. Joint productions helped Lebanese actors become popular more quickly in the Arab world, which is the same opportunity others received on Lebanese soil." She insisted that she does not impose limits on her statements and urged everyone to watch the entire interviews instead of fragmented excerpts before passing judgment on artists.
Lebanese media figure Nidal Ahmadiah recently ignited social media by speaking about Syrian refugees in a manner described as "unethical," posting a video in which she expressed her refusal to eat at restaurants after Syrian refugees occupied jobs in this field, including home delivery services. In the video, she stated that Lebanese people are known for their cleanliness but expressed her ignorance about Syrian refugees, using the phrase "I am disgusted by them," facing harsh backlash from her followers.
Similarly, Lebanese media personality Rabia Al-Zayyat addressed her colleagues in the media sphere via her Facebook page, urging them not to put Syrian and Lebanese artists in uncomfortable positions by asking them to comment on each other, expressing: "The media and journalists should stop asking Lebanese actors about their opinions of one another. Between Syria and Lebanon, there is history, geography, family ties, unity, love, and joy."
