The tension between the Saudi Arabian authorities and Turkish football clubs has drawn the reaction of many celebrities, including Hande Erçel.
The scheduled Turkish Super Cup match between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, was postponed after Saudi authorities refused to allow players wearing Atatürk t-shirts and banners to take the field. The issue gained traction on social media, with prominent figures from the entertainment industry making a series of posts in support of the shared value of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Through various social media platforms, many Turkish artists showed their support, including actors and actresses such as Burak Özçivit, Aras Bulut İynemli, Hazal Kaya, Hande Erçel, Demet Özdemir and famous musicians such as Tarkan, Gökhan Özoğuz and Hayko Cepkin.
“No room for debate, that’s it!” Hazal Kaya expressed her stance on the issue via an Instagram story. While Demet Özdemir, the lead actress of the series Farah, shared a story on her Instagram account with an image of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the words “If you’re going to cry, let’s not play”. Cem Yılmaz chose to express his stance by adding the Turkish flag to both his Instagram and X accounts, while Şevval Sam posted on her X account: “Of course Atatürk.”
Saudi Perfume Brand Terminates Contract with Hande Erçel
Hande Erçel’s Instagram story on the matter has led to complications in her business deal. Erçel, who had an endorsement deal with Saudi Arabian perfume brand Laverne, saw the company announce the termination of her contract after her post showing support.
Erçel shared a photo of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on social media after the Super Cup match was postponed due to the crisis. Early that morning, Erçel shared an Atatürk image on her Instagram stories with the caption of “Your opinion is ours, our path is yours Ata’m [my Ata]”.
Saudi Company Laverne’s Statement
Following this post, the Saudi Arabian perfume brand Laverne, which was to host the match, announced the termination of its advertising agreement with Erçel. Following Erçel’s post, the Saudi company released a statement via its X account at 06:17 AM.
The Arabic statement on Laverne’s x account said: “The easiest decisions are those related to the homeland, and because the homeland is a red line, Laverne decides to terminate her promotional contract with Hande Erçel.”
