Comedian Sammy Obeid issued POFMA order over false claims about Singapore show cancellation

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) has issued a Correction Direction to Lebanese-Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).

The order, issued on 1 September 2025, requires Obeid to publish correction notices alongside his 27 August posts on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

The ministry said Obeid’s posts falsely claimed that Singapore authorities cancelled his comedy shows due to censorship over content relating to Palestine and Israel.

Government denies censorship claims

According to the MDDI, Obeid’s allegations that the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) requested script edits or objected to parts of his routine are untrue.

“IMDA never discussed Mr Obeid’s script or its content with him or his representatives. IMDA never requested edits, nor did it suggest removing any material,” the ministry stated.

The ministry added that Obeid’s version of events misrepresented IMDA’s involvement and wrongly implied that authorities intervened because of his material.

Law Minister Edwin Tong had earlier described Obeid’s claims as “completely fictional” and said the Government was considering invoking POFMA.

The Correction Direction was authorised by Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo.

Licensing timeline provided by authorities

The ministry released a timeline detailing IMDA’s interactions with Obeid’s representatives:

• 8 July: Obeid’s assistant contacted IMDA to ask about licensing procedures.

• 9 July: IMDA replied that Arts Entertainment Licence (AEL) applications must be submitted at least 40 working days in advance through a local representative.

• 15 August: A formal AEL application was submitted just 10 working days before the scheduled show on 31 August.

• 19 August: IMDA informed the local representative that the application was too late to process.

• 20 August: An appeal was filed.

• 25 August: The appeal was rejected because of late submission.

MDDI stressed that the late submission was the sole reason for the rejection. “No evaluation of the show’s content took place,” it said.

Video claim and official clarification

In one of his social media posts, Obeid shared a video in which an unidentified person was heard advising him to remove “anything that has to do with Palestine and Israel.”

The Government said it had no involvement in that conversation. “IMDA was not part of that discussion,” the ministry clarified.

Impact of the correction order

Under the Correction Direction, Obeid is not required to remove his original posts but must append correction notices linking to the official explanation on the Government’s Factually website.

Authorities said this approach allows readers to view both accounts “and draw their own conclusions.”

At the time of reporting, Obeid’s posts remained live without visible correction notices.

Failure to comply with a Correction Direction is an offence under Section 15 of POFMA. Offenders may face a fine of up to S$20,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.

The now-cancelled Singapore performance was part of Obeid’s Asia tour, with shows also planned in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.

Over 1,000 tickets had reportedly been sold for his 31 August show at Victoria Theatre before it was cancelled.

MDDI said false claims such as Obeid’s could erode public trust in IMDA’s licensing role and “risk inflaming public sentiment on an already sensitive issue.”