The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has refuted claims made by US comedian Sammy Obeid regarding the cancellation of his show in Singapore.
In an Instagram post on Sunday (August 31), IMDA stated that the application for Obeid’s show was declined because it was submitted late.
IMDA also stated that no edits were requested for his script.
Source: Sammy Obeid on Instagram
Obeid made the claims in an Instagram post on Wednesday (27 Aug), four days before his show set for Sunday.
He said the show would be cancelled after the script he had submitted was rejected, though he did not name who exactly rejected it.
He claimed he was told to “completely remove all mentions of Palestine and Israel”, among other alleged edits.
After some rounds of script editing, he claimed that he was told there was no time for more revisions and resubmissions, and his permit would not be issued.
In its response, IMDA said it received the application for an Arts Entertainment Licence (AEL) at 11.57pm on 15 Aug.
This was 10 working days before the event.
“AEL applications are required to be submitted at least 40 working days before the event, to allow sufficient time for applications to be processed or advisories to be included in publicity materials and advertisements,” the authority added, noting:
IMDA would also like to point out that this was the local representative’s fourth late application since May 2024.
Neither Obeid nor IMDA named the local representative.
However, she was informed via email on 19 Aug that the late application could not be processed, IMDA said.
This was again conveyed to her on 25 Aug through a call and in writing.
IMDA further explained that it had not requested any edits to the script.
In fact, at no time were “multiple edits” requested, it said.
Source: Google Maps
Thus, Obeid’s allegations in his social media posts are “inaccurate”, it added.
On Sunday, Law Minister Edwin Tong weighed in on the matter, describing Obeid’s claims as “completely fictional”, according to The Straits Times (ST).
Speaking to the media at Siglap South Community Centre, he reiterated that IMDA had not requested any edits to his script.
In fact, there were no communications with him on the script — a point that his own agent confirmed, Mr Tong pointed out.
Source: Edwin Tong on Facebook
The minister stated that he does not know why Obeid made these claims, but the authorities are taking them seriously.
“Further steps” might be needed, he noted.
ST understands this could involve the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).
Mr Tong also said that he “welcomed the opportunity” to set the record straight.
However, Obeid has responded that he is not a liar.
In his most recent Instagram post on Sunday night, he shared a video of himself discussing apparent edits to the script over the phone with an unidentified person.
That person can be heard telling him to remove “anything that has to do with Palestine and Israel”.
In another clip, a person informs him that “they” have given them until 3pm that day to make the purported edits.
He did not specify when the videos were taken, nor identify the person on the other end of the line.
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Featured image adapted from Sammy Obeid on Instagram and Google Maps.