Khaberni - After the latest television interview of the Egyptian musician Hani Mehanna sparked controversy, following statements interpreted as offensive to two major artistic figures, Shadia and Faten Hamama, the famous musician came forward to apologize and ask for forgiveness from the fans of the two artists.
Hani Mehanna issued a formal clarification via his accounts, stressing that the incident was not intended at all, and that his remarks were completely devoid of any intent to offend or belittle any artist.
Mehanna explained that he felt very sad because of the anger and reproach that accompanied the interview, emphasizing that respect for the audience and his colleagues in the artistic community has always been a fundamental principle in his career. He noted that the mistake was due to the mixing up of names and situations in his mind, which is a human error that might occur especially with advancing age.
Hani Mehanna also said in his statement: "I offer a heartfelt apology to the spirits of the two dear artists, to their families, and to all their fans. What happened was an unintended mistake due to overlapping details during the conversation, and I hope this is met with understanding."
He also mentioned that the pressure of live broadcasting played a role in losing focus, as it requires speed in recalling information and high accuracy, which could lead to unintentional mistakes.
Mehanna concluded his remarks by asking for forgiveness from his audience, assuring that his artistic history testifies to his love and respect for everyone, and his deep appreciation of the art and its people.
Decision to Ban His Appearance
This came after the Supreme Council for Media Regulation in Egypt announced referring musician Hani Mehanna to the Syndicate of Artistic Professions and banning him from appearing in the media.
The Council explained that this decision was due to his statements that included insults and attacks on several icons of Egyptian art, during his appearance on a show.
The Egyptian musician Hani Mehanna had appeared in an episode of the program "Kalam Nnas" on MBC Egypt channel, during which he made statements, considered by viewers as offensive to the late Egyptian artists Shadia and Faten Hamama.
However, Mehanna responded in media statements saying that his words were distorted.
"Inappropriate" Remarks
Hani Mehanna claimed that he was arranging to prepare a joint duet between Shadia and Faten Hamama as part of a musical film work, but the latter refused in a way many described as "inappropriate".
The late artist Shadia also reportedly responded by hitting him with a shoe during their meeting, which caused widespread outrage and led to official actions to protect the icons of Egyptian art.
Shadia's Family Denies the Narrative
On the other hand, the family of artist Shadia denied this narrative, confirming that the relationship between Shadia and Faten Hamama was always based on mutual respect and affection.
In her comment on the situation, Nahed Shaker, Shadia's niece, wrote on her personal Facebook account: "A video was sent to me by someone.. and I found no place for the video but in the trash bin," clearly indicating the family's rejection of what Hani Mehanna stated.
