Comedian Sammy Obeid Claims Censorship After Show Cancellation in Singapore

Sammy Obeid, a US comedian, expressed his frustration after the cancellation of his scheduled performance at Singapore’s Victoria Theatre on August 31. He took to Instagram to share that the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) had rejected his show script twice and communicated that a permit would not be granted. Obeid, who is of Lebanese-Palestinian-Syrian-Italian-American descent, was asked to submit a script for approval, which he did reluctantly, as he typically performs without a predetermined script.

He noted the difficulties of performing in Singapore, emphasizing that he was aware of the government's strict regulations on public performances, especially regarding politically charged content. Obeid’s routine mainly discusses the ongoing situation in Gaza, a subject that he noted was likely to be met with disapproval from the authorities. He mentioned that just five days prior to the event, he was informed that any mention of Palestine and Israel would need to be removed.

While Obeid claimed that he had been instructed to cut significant portions of his act, the IMDA responded by clarifying that the license application was submitted late—only 10 working days before the performance—in violation of their 40-working-day requirement. The authority also dismissed Obeid's assertions of censorship, highlighting that this was the representative’s fourth late application since May 2024, and reiterated that they had informed the applicant multiple times about the late submission.

According to the IMDA, all public events in Singapore, including stand-up comedy shows, are subject to licensing and content review, particularly when topics concern sensitive issues. Obeid, who acknowledged the strict regulations in Singapore, contested the explanation of the cancellation relating solely to the submission timing, feeling that the cultural content was a significant factor. Despite the setback in Singapore, Obeid's tour will continue across several other Asian countries, and he has offered ticket holders the option to transfer their tickets to other shows.