Moroccan Stars Face Backlash Over Paid Fan Interaction App

Allo my star application. This is the new brainchild of Moroccan celebrities. Inspired by the American concept of Cameo created in 2017, this application allows fans to interact with their favorite star at well-defined rates. Thus, any fan must pay 1343 dirhams to exchange with the singer Ibtisam Tiskat, for 5 minutes, 1791 for 10 minutes and 2,687 for 15 minutes. The rates for actress Bouchra Ahrich are set at 627 DH for 5 minutes, 895 DH for 10 minutes and 1343 DH for 15 minutes. As for actor Omar Lotfi, he has set an amount of 851 DH for a 5-minute exchange, 1164 for 10 minutes and 1343 for 15 minutes.

This new method therefore generates financial resources. Enough to relieve the artists in these difficult times of Covid-19. However, this method raises lively controversies. Some fans and some celebrities criticize the artists. "Profit at all costs," denounce social media users. "With all due respect to all my artist friends, is the new app an insult to the artist or the public? Has the artist become a commodity with his consent, or are we mocking the public? Is it the fault of the authorities who forgot the artists during Covid, and crushed by the crisis, they accepted this farce? I don’t find the answers, and I prefer to just ask questions. Yes, the idea has been applied in the West, but not everything that comes from there is necessarily suitable here," writes TV presenter Samid Ghailan.

In reaction to the controversy, Moroccan singer Younes Belmani provides some clarifications. "This application, like other digital applications, includes Moroccan and Arab artists. [...] The idea of the application is old and circulates in European countries, but in Morocco it has been described as strange. [...] The prices offered on the application are normal for some fans. [...] the application is intended for people who have a strong love for artists and are able to pay these amounts," he said in an interview with Al3omk.

"The purpose of my participation in this application is to donate its profits to charitable causes," explained director Driss Rokh.