Sammy Obeid yet to comply with POFMA correction order over posts on cancelled Singapore shows
As of 6.30pm on 3 September, Lebanese-Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid has not complied with a Correction Direction issued under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA). The directive required him to append correction notices to his 27 August social media posts about the cancellation of his Singapore stand-up shows.
- Comedian Sammy Obeid has yet to publish required correction notices for alleged false claims about IMDA and his cancelled Singapore shows.
- The POFMA Office says he must append — not delete — the posts, linking to the Government’s clarification on the Factually website.
- Non-compliance can lead to fines of up to S$20,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months.
SINGAPORE — As of 6.30pm on Tuesday (3 Sept), Lebanese-Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid has yet to comply with a Correction Direction issued under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), which required him to append correction notices to his 27 August social media posts on Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) had issued the directive on 1 September 2025, stating that Obeid’s posts contained false claims about the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of his stand-up comedy shows in Singapore.
Checks on Obeid’s social media accounts on 3 September showed that no correction notices had been added to the relevant posts. The Online Citizen (TOC) said it had written to the POFMA Office seeking clarification on the deadline for compliance and potential actions that may follow, but no response had been received by the close of the working day.
In past cases, individuals or organisations receiving a Correction Direction were typically required to publish the correction notice by around 9am to 12pm the next day.
Obeid addresses ticket refunds
In a separate post, Obeid addressed fans who had purchased tickets for his cancelled shows, saying he had emailed them options for refunds or transfers.
“Please bear with us as it’s over 1,100 orders and emails to respond to. We will make sure all full refund requests are processed,” he wrote, assuring that refunds would be completed within one to two weeks.
He added that arrangements were being made for fans who opted to transfer their tickets or attend a private virtual show.
POFMA compliance and penalties
The POFMA Office clarified that Obeid was not required to delete his original posts but must clearly append correction notices that link to the official Government clarification on the Factually website.
This requirement, the ministry said, allows readers to view both Obeid’s statements and the Government’s response to “draw their own conclusions.”
Under Section 15 of POFMA, failing to comply with a Correction Direction without reasonable excuse constitutes an offence. Those found guilty may face fines of up to S$20,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.
Authorities also have the power to instruct internet service providers to block access to non-compliant content within Singapore through an access blocking order.
Government response and disputed claims
The Correction Direction came after Law Minister Edwin Tong described Obeid’s version of events as “completely fictional” on 31 August, warning that such statements could mislead the public and mischaracterise the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA) role.
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo authorised the Correction Direction, which the ministry said was necessary to address “false statements of fact.”
According to the Government’s clarification, Obeid’s posts misrepresented IMDA’s involvement in the show’s cancellation. The ministry stated that IMDA never discussed his script, requested edits, or imposed any restrictions on content related to Israel, Palestine, or the Gaza conflict.
“Mr Obeid’s account of protracted back-and-forth interactions with the Government is inaccurate,” MDDI said. “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.”
Obeid had alleged that IMDA demanded he “completely remove” certain segments of his performance and rejected his licence application because he might deviate from his submitted script. The ministry said these claims were false.
In a separate video, Obeid shared a recording of an unidentified voice telling him to “remove anything that has to do with Palestine and Israel,” which he presented as evidence of censorship. The Government has maintained that IMDA was not involved in those communications.
Precedent for non-compliance
Singapore authorities have previously exercised their power to block access to content under POFMA.
In June 2023, the online publication Asia Sentinel was blocked locally after it failed to comply with a Correction Direction over an article titled “Singapore Kills A Chicken To Scare The Monkeys.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs said the piece contained falsehoods regarding Singapore’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis. When Asia Sentinel did not publish the correction notice in the required format, the Ministry of Communications and Information ordered an access block — which remains until compliance is achieved.
The current case involving Obeid marks the first known instance of a POFMA order applied to a foreign entertainer in Singapore.
