Saudi’s online community is filled with popular stars. From sheikhs, to fashionistas, to whole families sharing their lives, the online personalities of the Kingdom have enormous followings that often propel them to stardom.
But with a great following comes great responsibility: if you incite the anger of your following, you could find yourself having lost their favor – much like social media star Mamduh al-Shamri discovered this week.
Though al-Shamri is known for his short videos with controversial topics, for many Saudis he crossed the line when he released a video wearing a woman’s dress. The dress, he said, is “your sister’s”, who forgot it at his place last night.
A corny comment, but enough to rile up the masses against him.
الله يصلحك يا ممدوح كل فتره لازم نشوف هاشتاق #ممدوح_الشمري؟ الشهره طيبه ولكنها بأدب اطيب pic.twitter.com/Psktw2bJ2I
— مانع القحطاني (@mane_alqahtani) October 4, 2016
“May God fix you, Mamdouh. Do we have to see his hashtag all the time? Fame is nice, but fame with decency is even nicer.”
مع إنتشار الوقاحة أصبح الأدب مُلفتاً للنظر .#ممدوح_الشمري
— عبدالله (@iAbdullahQh) October 5, 2016
“With how much rudeness is out there decency has become eye-catching.”
Some have even called for a boycott of al-Shamri, apparently tired of seeing him in the news:
اتمنى من الشعب التويتري السعودي زي ماشن حملة مقاطعه ع اس تي سي ان يشنوا حملات مقاطعه لكل احمق شوه صورة المواطن السعودي #ممدوح_الشمري
— اريج الحياة . (@LifeAreej) October 4, 2016
“The Saudis on Twitter could boycott STC, so I hope they’re able to boycott all of those who tarnish the name of Saudi citizens [like Mamdouh al-Shamri].”
And the call for a boycott was backed by Hajjaj al-Ajmi, a famous sheikh on Saudi Twitter.
#ممدوح_المنبطح_لايمثل_شمر الشيخ حجاج العجمي اختصر عليكم كل الكلام وعطاكم الزبدة في من هذي الأشكال pic.twitter.com/pi1lym5mhZ
— عبدالله بن بدر (@A_Alhajlah1) October 5, 2016
“Sheikh Hajjaj al-Ajmi breaks everything down for you and then tells you how to deal with things like this”
Others had only a few brief words for Mamdouh:
Stop making stupid people famous #ممدوح_الشمري
— ع (@daymond01) October 5, 2016
Cross dressing is a taboo in the Arab World, as are insults regarding sisters, mothers, and women of the family. Though it’s not clear why al-Shamri made this joke, he might find himself with even more fame after the “campaign against him”.
JC
