Aaron Aziz backlash: Gaza activism now litmus test for celebrities in Malaysia
Hazlin Hassan for The Straits Times
In Malaysia's charged social media landscape, even celebrities from across the Causeway are discovering that silence on Gaza is no longer acceptable, as public figures face mounting pressure for their perceived lack of support for the Palestinian cause.
In recent days, for instance, Malaysia-based Singaporean actor Aaron Aziz has become embroiled in a controversy sparked by a video manipulated to portray him criticising activists on the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian mission to Gaza.
The incident underscores how the Gaza conflict has become a litmus test for public figures in Malaysia, where support for Palestine cuts across ethnic and political lines, and where staying silent is increasingly viewed as complicity.
"The severity of the genocide in Gaza now is making Malaysians expect everyone to contribute to stop it, especially people who are influential," said Professor Nazari Ismail, chairman of BDS Malaysia, which spearheads the local boycott, divest and sanction (BDS) movement against those linked to Israeli settlers in Palestine.
Prof Nazari, director of the Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies at Universiti Malaya, said the call to speak out on Gaza now extends beyond politicians to include celebrities and social media influencers, reflecting a global trend.
He noted that even in the West, public figures such as Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence have been questioned about their stance, leading her to openly acknowledge her fears that a genocide is being committed in Gaza.
On Oct 7, Aaron had announced plans to sue Malaysian influencer Sharina Richie for defamation after her post on Oct 4 accused him of criticising the Global Sumud Flotilla activists. The flotilla, comprising more than 40 vessels with 500 participants from more than 44 countries, had attempted to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip but was intercepted by Israeli forces between Oct 1 and Oct 3.
Ms Sharina's post had sparked an onslaught of online abuse against Aaron's family, with his wife Diyana Halik saying his children were "deeply affected".
In response, the influencer filed a RM2 million (S$610,000) defamation suit against Aaron's daughter Dwi Ariana, 19. The actor said he received the letter of demand on Oct 9, and was baffled as to why his daughter was targeted for requesting that the offending video be removed.
In what has turned into a tit-for-tat situation, Ms Sharina claimed she had been bullied and threatened by Ms Dwi Ariana on social media.
"I had issued a public apology, but it was mocked and turned into material for bullying by Dwi Ariana," she said in a video on her social media on Oct 9.
Aaron's experience was the opposite of his fellow Singaporean celebrity Atikah Suhaime. The Malaysia-based actress had won praise in August for rejecting a RM1.2 million endorsement deal with a company said to be targeted by the global BDS movement.
The debate over Aaron has also drawn in others, such as Malaysian singer Bella Astillah, who faced a backlash after allegedly promoting another boycott-related brand. She apologised on Oct 6, saying that all promotional work was arranged by her management.
Similarly, Malaysian model and influencer Ameera Khan faced criticism for promoting brands allegedly linked to Israel, such as luxury goods firm Dior, whose parent company LVMH is on the BDS list. She said on Instagram on Oct 4 that her work obligations "should never be mistaken for indifference".
The fallout echoes a wider pattern seen in 2024, during the #Blockout2024 movement, an online campaign to block the social media accounts of celebrities silent on Gaza in an attempt to restrict their social media reach.
Malaysia has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, consistently condemning Israeli actions and pushing for humanitarian access to Gaza.
On Oct 8, thousands gathered at a stadium in Kuala Lumpur for a Gaza solidarity rally attended by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The gathering was planned to celebrate the release of 23 Malaysian volunteers with the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Among the 23 were singer Zizi Kirana, actress Ardell Aryana and popular preacher PU Rahmat. They were detained by Israeli military forces, which intercepted their vessels en route to Gaza on Oct 2, before being deported to Malaysia on Oct 7.
During the rally, Datuk Seri Anwar announced plans for a new aid mission via Egypt and urged the release of nine more Malaysian activists who were still detained by Israeli forces. The group has since been freed and arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct 10.
The flotilla mission was documented on social media and viewed by more than hundreds of thousands of viewers in Malaysia. When the interception happened, its SOS alert on social media was shared by the thousands.
This episode has further galvanised public sentiment, already inflamed by public protests ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Kuala Lumpur for the Asean Summit at the end of October.
Prof Nazari explained that staying silent is no longer considered a neutral act, especially for public figures, lest they be accused of lacking humanistic values of justice, freedom and equality.
"They (celebrities) can contribute tremendously to the cause, because what they say is covered by the media and transmitted to millions of their fans or followers. With power, comes responsibility. The more power, the more responsibility," he said.
Political analyst Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said social media has heightened public pressure on these celebrities.
"We know that Malaysians are very passionate about the Palestinian issue, and rightly so. I think they are looking for more ways to amplify their voices and concerns," she said.
"It is a mix of genuine concern and identity signalling. The use of social media, which is so public, has pressured users to participate online in such a mainstream issue. By just leaving a comment or a 'like' is enough to signal that they are part of the movement without being fully immersed."
But Dr Syaza warned that the rise of online policing risks silencing rather than empowering voices. She lamented how activism has turned into cyber bullying, which may instead deter celebrities from advocacy for fear of their words being taken out of context and being embroiled in a witch hunt.
She added that while foreign celebrities such as Singaporeans working in Malaysia should be aware of local sensitivities, they should not be pressured into speaking.
"I don't agree with forcing or pressuring people to speak up if they are not fully committed because it would backfire in a way," she said.
"If celebs want to effectively contribute, it must be a long-term sustained effort, and not just when things go viral. Then they have legitimacy and people might pay better attention."
- Sign up for our weekly Asian Insider Malaysia Edition newsletter to make sense of the big stories in Malaysia.
