Shukran Murtaja apologizes and withdraws from Facebook and X.. What's the story?

In a surprising move, Syrian actress Shukran Murtaja decided to close her Facebook and X accounts, just days after the controversy that followed the second episode of her new talk show, "Oh La La."

The episode featuring director Saif Al-Din Al-Subaie did not go unnoticed, as the guest's political views sparked sharp reactions, ranging from criticism to a widespread cyberattack.

Shukran Murtaja apologizes: The intention is completely the opposite. In a series of heartfelt posts, Mortaja expressed her sadness at the outcome, addressing her Syrian audience in a sincere yet pained tone. She denied that the show or its guests intended to stir controversy, emphasizing that the intention was quite the opposite. “I swear that neither I, the station, nor our guests intended to stir up strife,” Shukran wrote, before extending a sincere apology to anyone who felt the episode offended their dignity or feelings.

Despite the grief, she did not forget to express her pride in her affiliation with Syria and its people, emphasizing that the pain was not so much in the criticism as in the suspicions of those from whom she expected support or understanding.

Shukran: We're moving away because there's something that doesn't resemble us. What followed the apology wasn't a response, but a calculated withdrawal. Shukran explained that staying away from platforms doesn't mean weakness: "We stay away because there's something that doesn't resemble us... and because our morals don't allow us to respond to insult with insult."

The insults directed at her on social media, she noted, were not merely artistic criticism, but rather a hurtful personal attack, forcing her to make what may have seemed a difficult decision for an active and beloved artist on social media. However, Mortaja chose to remain silent with dignity, concluding her digital presence with a message of love, not hostility, and of morality, not conflict.