Mohamed Ramadan faces unions investigation over 'tasteless' Coachella outfit

Egyptian actor and performer Mohamed Ramadan is facing a probe by artistic unions after performing in a pharaonic outfit at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in the US, California.

Ramadan, who became the first Egyptian artist to join a star-studded line-up including Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, and Travis Scott at the world-famous music event, took the stage wearing a custom-made attire designed by Egyptian designer Faria Temraz.

The haute couture design featured a gold chain top and black trousers, paired with a long black cardigan emblazoned with the Ankh, the ancient Egyptian Key of Life hieroglyph on the back.  

Following Ramadan’s performance of Bethlawy, where he raised the Egyptian flag on stage in front of a large audience, Egyptian social media lit up with criticism. Commentators, fans, and fellow creatives accused him of "disrespecting both his audience and his Egyptian identity".

On Monday, the union adviser for three artistic syndicates including music cinema and acting announced that the pop star will be investigated over his "disrespectful" appearance at the festival. In a statement, Sayed Mahmoud said the federation would take the necessary measures against the 36-year-old.

Egyptian journalist and broadcaster Mohamed El Baz also urged the head of Egypt's Musicians' Syndicate, Mostafa Kamel, to take disciplinary action, even though the event occurred outside Egypt.

"Artistic freedom does not mean a loss of dignity," El Baz said. "This crossed all the lines."

Social media content creator Mohamed Essam also weighed in, adding: "This isn’t just about fashion, it’s about representation."

Despite the backlash, Egypt’s Musicians’ Syndicate distanced itself from the controversy, claiming that Ramadan is registered with the Actors' Syndicate, which holds jurisdiction over his activities. The Musicians' Syndicate only grants performance permits for events within Egypt.

Veteran film critic Tarek el Shennawi said that Ramadan’s performance was "unacceptable" but argued that a "punitive reaction is overblown".

He told Al Jazeera: "Yes, what he did was tasteless, but not a criminal offence. We can criticise, but not crucify. This should be a learning moment for Ramadan, though I doubt it will be, he’s always reactive and theatrically expressive."

Ahead of the show, Ramadan posted on his social media praising his participation in the international festival as a cultural milestone. In a video message to his fans, he said: "This show is our chance as Arabs to prove our strength to America and the world. It might be my last time here, but the message will reach them through art."

The Coachella incident is the latest in a string of controversies for the actor.

Ramadan recently made headlines after an awkward interaction with actress Yasmine Sabri at a Ramadan suhoor gathering led to allegations of public embarrassment. Though Sabri initially considered legal action, she later dropped the case after receiving a formal apology from Ramadan.

In August 2022, Ramadan also received backlash after posting a picture of him alongside two Israeli celebrities at a Dubai party. The photo sparked a lawsuit accusing the singer of "insulting the Egyptian people" and widespread condemnation by fans. The syndicate of Egyptian artists also suspended his membership.