An Arab Idol press conference was disrupted on Sunday when some journalists stormed out after the hot-headed Emirati judge Ahlam exploded over questions they were asking.
Our journalist on the ground in Beirut said that Ahlam's outburst was prompted by questions about Ragheb Alama, a judge from the previous season. The two had a mutual dislike of each other (read our interview with him here on the subject.) Ahlam could not see the relevance of bringing it up as it is the start of a new season.
Other questions were ones she has been asked many times before. For example, whether she thought people voted out of national interest rather than for talent.
Upon seeing her frustration, a journalist asked her what she thought of the quality of the questions being asked.
Ahlam replied “zero” and said that when the conference started, she passed a note to fellow judge Nancy Ajram calling the questions “3aib” (inappropriate, shameful).
“Had I known I would spend all this time doing my hair and makeup only to be faced with stupid questions, I wouldn’t have bothered,” the irate star shouted at the gathered journalists.
At that, around one-fifth of the reporters left the room. Later, towards the end of the conference, a reporter asked Ahlam if she thought she owed an apology to those who left. Ahlam said the only apology she felt obliged to give was to those journalists that had stayed in the room.
A video of the episode is going viral on Arabic social networks. You can watch it here.
fcampbell@thenational.ae
