Videos quickly spread across social media, and comments varied between mockery and astonishment, where one follower questioned, "Is this the television appearance fee? Don’t go for such a cheap rate," while another questioned his mental state.
Khaberni - Turkish academic Uygun Arbaş stirred wide controversy on social media platforms after he appeared on a live TV show, where he pulled out a bundle of banknotes from his pocket and began counting them in front of the cameras.
The program "Mind of the Circle" on CNN Turkey hosted academic Uygun Arbaş to discuss the issue of drug addiction and its damages, particularly following the recent security operations that affected well-known figures in the country.
Arbaş spoke about the role of the surrounding environment initially saying, "The circle of friends definitely has a big impact initially;" however, what caught the attention of viewers was his unusual behavior during the episode, when he took money from his pocket and began counting it, deeply focusing.
A third commented sarcastically, "Checking to make sure the money is enough to go to the soup restaurant after leaving," while some saw the act as reflecting living difficulties where he calculates taxi fare.
Amidst the wave of criticism, a number of followers defended Arbaş, pointing to his health condition.
One commenter clarified that the man has exceptional intelligence and was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, which could explain some of his behaviors and concerns, urging others not to judge him harshly and to choose their words carefully.
