Singapore Government Takes Action Against Sammy Obeid

In a dramatic showdown, the Singapore government has announced that it will take matters into its own hands as US comedian Sammy Obeid fails to abide by a correction order regarding his canceled shows. This bold move comes after Obeid expressed controversial claims about his performance being stifled.

The correction order, issued on September 1 under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), mandated Obeid to publish corrections on his disputed social media posts. However, his noncompliance has led authorities to instruct platforms like Meta and X to step in and disseminate correction notices to users in Singapore.

What Did Obeid Claim?

Obeid, who identifies as Lebanese-Palestinian-Syrian-Italian-American, initially claimed that his script was rejected by the authorities due to references to the Israel-Palestine conflict. He argued that he had complied with requests to eliminate sensitive mentions but still faced rejection from Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).

According to reports, Obeid’s Instagram post went viral, amassing over 800 shares and 1,600 comments in just a day, as he painted a picture of artistic censorship.

The Government's Response

The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) did not hold back in its response, stating that Obeid's claims are false. They clarified that under the correction order, he was not required to delete his original posts. Yet, the government insists that the integrity of information must be upheld.

IMDA’s officials confirmed that they had reviewed Obeid’s application for his shows, which was submitted too late—just 10 working days before the event—and had not requested that he alter his script. The application process is crucial and requires a lead time of 40 working days.

Future Steps

After Obeid's portrayal of events, Minister for Law Edwin Tong indicated that authorities would explore "further steps." He stressed the importance of adhering to the licensing laws, emphasizing that the timeline is clear and will be strictly enforced.

With tensions brewing over this cultural conflict, eyes are now on Obeid as he navigates the fallout from his contentious statements and the Singaporean government's firm stance on regulating online misinformation.