The Egyptian Actors Syndicate has banned social media influencers, often referred to as “Bluegers” and “Tek Tokers,” from participating in artistic works. Syndicate head Ashraf Zaki defended the decision, stating that artists dedicate their lives to their profession and should not be sidelined by those who haven’t undergone similar training.
Though, art critic Tariq El-Shennawi criticized the syndicate’s move as “random and stillborn.” He argued that directors should have the freedom to choose actors who best serve their projects. El-shennawi characterized Zaki’s decisions as “dictatorial procedures,” asserting that the ban on influencers will not solve the unemployment crisis among actors, which stems from various factors beyond the rise of social media personalities.
El-Shennawi proposed that the syndicate should instead focus on creating a supportive artistic habitat for unemployed actors and actively connect them with production companies for suitable roles.
The syndicate’s decision follows a controversy initiated by artist Medhat Tikha, who publicly expressed his strong disapproval of featuring a popular TikToker in artistic works. tikha argued that the content of such influencers is often suggestive and inappropriate, failing to represent the art or message of acting. He also criticized the syndicate for celebrating a TikToker, deeming it a contradiction to the profession’s values and traditions, and an oversight of the efforts of academically trained artists.