IMDA refutes claims of script edits as comedian Sammy Obeid cancels Singapore show

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has denied claims that it demanded script edits from Palestinian-American comedian Sammy Obeid, whose scheduled stand-up show in Singapore was cancelled.

In a statement on 28 August, IMDA clarified that the organiser submitted the permit application late on 15 August—only 10 working days before the planned performance at Victoria Theatre—when regulations require at least 40 working days’ notice.

IMDA emphasised that “at no time were multiple edits requested” and stated that the applicant was an experienced organiser who had submitted late applications on three previous occasions since May 2024. The authority added that it informed the applicant on 19 August that the submission could not be processed and reiterated this position on 25 August.

The agency also noted that stand-up comedy is considered an unscripted art form under Singapore’s classification system, which typically requires a synopsis and a recording of a similar show, rather than a full written script.

Comedian alleges political content censorship

Sammy K. Obeid, an American comedian and writer known for addressing political and cultural themes, announced on 27 August that his 31 August show in Singapore had been cancelled.

In a post on Instagram, Obeid claimed that authorities had rejected the permit application only five days before the show, forcing its cancellation. He alleged that Singapore’s regulators directed him to remove all references to Palestine and Israel from his material, including two indirect calls to action encouraging audiences to raise awareness of the Gaza conflict and humanitarian issues.

According to Obeid, he submitted a heavily revised version of his act that included minimal mentions of the Middle East—one of which was a mathematical joke involving Israel—but that too was rejected.

Attempts to secure approval

Obeid said he had been willing to make further concessions to ensure the show went ahead, including deleting remaining political references and altering audience interaction segments that regulators reportedly opposed.

“I completely caved on my conscience so that there could be a show,” he wrote, expressing regret about the compromises. “I didn’t feel good about it at all, but I’d rather do that than cancel on literally 1001 fans.”

He added that the authorities refused to grant the licence, citing insufficient time for additional revisions and concern over unscripted remarks.

Message to fans and cancellation fallout

In his post, Obeid apologised to fans who had purchased tickets or planned their weekend around the event. “If you bought tickets and planned your entire weekend around seeing this show – I am beyond sorry,” he said.

He described the Singapore show as the “biggest event” on his Asia tour and said he had designed the schedule around it. Obeid shared that he had even explored alternatives such as converting the event into a children’s show to bypass licensing requirements, but promoters declined to proceed due to regulatory risks.

Challenges of performing in Singapore

Obeid said he was aware of the country’s strict licensing framework but chose to proceed with experienced partners familiar with IMDA processes. “There’s hours of paperwork, obtaining licences, and submitting my ‘script’ for approval,” he wrote. “Of course I don’t normally script my performances… but I was happy to follow the process to put on a show for my fans.”

He expressed frustration that the authorities disapproved of his intention to engage in spontaneous audience interactions, which are common in stand-up comedy. “Have they not seen crowd work clips on TikTok?” he quipped.

After removing direct references to Palestine, Obeid said he attempted to include subtle wordplay such as “Don’t occupations suck?” and jokes involving watermelons, a symbol sometimes associated with Palestinian solidarity. These too were rejected, he said.

Broader discussion on artistic expression

Obeid said the cancellation had prompted him to reflect on artistic expression and censorship. “I would end this with a motivational message about always standing up for what you believe in, but I didn’t, and now I can’t even do stand-up,” he wrote.

He added that he was working with organisers to arrange refunds and exploring ways to connect with Singapore-based supporters, though options were limited.

IMDA’s clarification on 28 August sought to address growing public discussion around Obeid’s claims. The authority reiterated that the rejection was purely procedural and unrelated to content.