Tamer Hosny, a prominent Egyptian artist, has sparked widespread controversy and faced a severe backlash on social media following his appearance in a Ramadan advertisement for Chipsy, a brand currently on a boycott list due to its support for Israel amidst the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza. The advertisement, which showcased Hosny in a festive Ramadan setting, singing and dancing in the streets, led to a widespread call for unfollowing his social media accounts, resulting in the loss of approximately one million followers on Facebook, reducing his followers from 25 million to 24 million.
Critics accuse Hosny of breaking the boycott for financial gains, with rumors circulating on social media that he received a substantial sum, approximately one million dollars, for his participation in the ad. Despite previously announcing a hiatus from his artistic activities to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause, Hosny’s participation in this advertisement has been seen by many as a contradiction to his declared stance.
In response to the controversy, Tamer Hosny has remained silent, not commenting on the backlash or the calls for boycotting his work. This silence has left the public and his fans speculating about his reasons for participating in the ad, whether it was due to a prior contractual agreement that he could not break without penalties or the financial compensation he received.
تامر حسني طالع في إعلان عن الهلال الأحمر وطعم ضحايا غزة
وطالع كذلك في إعلان شيبسي (المقاطعة) اللي فلوس الشركة الأم بيذهب جزء منها لدعم الاحتلال الصهيوني
منافقين كما عهدناكم
عبيد للفلوس ، الفلوس بتعبدوها ، معدومي الكرامة pic.twitter.com/PVcKlWVN6f— Ahmedöv (@a5medv) March 11, 2024
An informed source revealed that Tamer Hosny signed a contract to feature in advertisements for the company over the past years, and this year’s advertisement falls within the previously agreed contract.
#قاطع عديمي الشرف.#تامر_حسني pic.twitter.com/j6XiWV0UzP
— Magda Mahfouz🌍✨ (@magdaMahfouzeg) March 11, 2024
It should be noted that since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza, a widespread campaign to boycott products and brands supporting Israel was launched, with “Chipsy” being listed among these brands.
