Egyptian artist Bayoumi Fouad cried when a picture of his colleague artist Mohamed Salam was shown during his media appearance on the program "Hibr Sari" on Thursday. The discussion mainly focused on his crisis with Salam following the latter's withdrawal from the play "Artificial Marriage" during the Riyadh season last year.
Bayoumi Fouad refused to apologize for the famous video in which he addressed the Saudi audience after the play, implicitly criticizing Mohamed Salam, who withdrew in solidarity with the civilian victims in Gaza. This led to severe backlash against Bayoumi on social media platforms in Egypt, including calls for a boycott.
Regarding his refusal to apologize, Bayoumi stated, "I stand by what I said because I am a man of my word, and I only apologize for saying I am not here to make people laugh, as we actually go to make people laugh. Laughter is beautiful, and comedy is something difficult that not everyone can deliver."
He also apologized to "all the heroes of the play" who were behind him on stage when he spoke to the Saudi audience, stating they were subjected to insults because of him. He confirmed that none of them knew he would speak and that there was no pressure from the Saudi side for him to address the matter as some thought; instead, "they asked me not to speak," as he expressed.
Bayoumi extended his apology to all his fans who were upset with him after the "Mohamed Salam crisis video," telling them, "Tomorrow you will know the truth."
He addressed what he described as a "fierce campaign" against his colleague Mohamed Anwar, saying, "Anwar was crying, and the phrase (life is lived once, either live it with Salam or Anwar) hurt us a lot." He added, "After the attack on us in Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Anwar was afraid for himself and his children from returning to Egypt."
In response to what Egyptian director Kamla Abu Zikri said, who supported Mohamed Salam during the crisis, he stated, "We rehearsed for the play for over a month, and the script was written over more than three months. We don't travel to other countries to do things in three days as she said." He addressed her, saying, "We are ambassadors for our country, and they love us and respect us in Saudi Arabia. If this bothers you, what can we do? Their love for us is real."
Bayoumi revealed that he contacted Mohamed Salam before announcing his withdrawal from the play, asking him to suggest a replacement, to which Salam replied "anyone from Masrah Egypt." When Salam apologized in a video on his social media accounts, Bayoumi said he called Salam and asked him to delete the video, to which Salam replied, "For the first time in my life, I will tell you no." Bayoumi concluded the call and has not spoken to him since.
Regarding the repercussions of his crisis with Salam on the set of the series "Al Kabeer Awy 8," Bayoumi clarified that he asked the producers not to have them together in any scenes; otherwise, he would resign and return his fee. They complied with his request and rewrote the episodes.
He stated, "Ahmed Mekky tried to reconcile us, but I refused... because it won't end that way; it will end with God."
When Asma Ibrahim, the host of "Hibr Sari," presented a picture of Mohamed Salam to Bayoumi Fouad and asked him to send a message or question, Bayoumi cried, then composed himself and addressed Salam, saying, "How could you not defend Mohamed Anwar when he was your nomination? You wouldn't have lost anything if you had defended him like you defended Amir Karara later... this is what I was waiting for from you."
He concluded, "Life is one and God is one for all who insulted me, and for everyone who misunderstood me... I am wrong but a man... and I am with you to the end."
