In a recent turn of events, American stand-up comedian Sammy Obeid’s allegations surrounding the cancellation of his shows in Singapore have sparked a fierce response from local authorities. During a press conference at Siglap South Community Centre, Law Minister Edwin Tong asserted that Obeid’s narrative is “completely fictional” and does not align with the facts.
Obeid’s Claims of Censorship
Sammy Obeid took to Instagram on 27 August 2024, stating that he faced significant hurdles to secure performance licenses, claiming his script underwent multiple revisions and was eventually rejected. His script reportedly focused heavily on the conflict in Gaza, leading to demands for edits to remove references to Palestine and Israel.
- Obeid alleged lengthy delays in the approval process.
- He claimed that his agents confirmed these communication attempts.
Official Response from Singapore
Countering Obeid’s claims, Minister Tong clarified that the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) did not request any edits to his script and, importantly, there was no direct communication between them and Obeid regarding these supposed alterations. According to IMDA, the application submitted was effectively late—10 working days behind schedule—as licenses must be submitted 40 working days prior to a show.
“Mr Obeid has put out a completely fictional account of what transpired,” stated Tong, who serves as the Second Minister for Home Affairs. He further welcomed the opportunity to clarify what actually happened: “The facts are clear… the rules are in place to ensure a smooth process for artists and performers alike.”
IMDA’s Clarification
On 28 August, IMDA reiterated their stance, highlighting that Obeid’s representatives were notified about the late application shortly after submission. They stated that the decision was solely based on the timing of the application and not on the content of Obeid’s performance.
“The local representative had acknowledged she was unaware the comedian would make such claims. She has emails and recordings to demonstrate she repeatedly informed him that the application was late and that no edits were necessary,” an IMDA spokesperson remarked.