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Egypt: Tamer Hosni Changes Sides?

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Egypt, Arts & Culture, Politics, Protest

This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011 [1].

As pro-democracy protests continue across Egypt for the 16th day, netizens took a break from covering its fast-paced developments today to see what the fuss over Tamer Hosni's tears is.

Egyptian actor and singer Tamer Hosni, who had earlier appeared on state television asking protesters to go home, went to Tahrir Square, the epicentre of anti-Mubarak protests in down town Cairo, to speak to protesters.

There he was booed and heckled by the crowds, and the army had to interfere to rescue him. A tearful Tamer was caught on camera saying he was tricked into speaking against the protests:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijqawzo2oBQ

This video drew much ridicule from netizens, as you will see in the comments below.

On Twitter, Wael Ghonim urged [2] protesters to show more clemency to people who change sides:

أرجوكم قولوا للشباب: التعرض لتامر حسني هو أكبر غلط إحنا دلوقتي بنخلي كل واحد عايز يراجع نفسه يفكر ألف مرة .. كل واحد بينضم لينا مكسب #Jan25
Please tell the youth: Attacking Tamer Hosni was a mistake. We are now making anyone who wants to rethink his position think a thousand times (before changing sides) .. anyone who joins our ranks is a bonus

Here are some reactions from Twitter:

@Port_Sa3eedy [3]: Tamer Hosni is in #Tahrir square now and people are pushing him out.. shouting… get down get down… OUT OUT #jan25 #Egypt

@AJELive [4]: Egyptian singer Tamer Hosni shouted down in #Tahrir Square after trying to speak- army intervened, firing warning shots http://aje.me/hQnjvg

@ [5]: Wait Wait Wait … Tamer Hosni Got “KICKED OUT” of Tahrir ??? .. Dear God Egypt is Improving Already !!! =D

@iyad_elbaghdadi [6]: For those who don't know, Tamer Hosni is a young pop star. Earlier asked demonstrators to go home and not disrupt #Egypt. #Jan25

@FaithHitaf [7]: kicking tamer hosni out? joiners who had a true change of heart should be embraced by protesters to boost their cause #jan25

@RobaAssi [8]: Funniest shit EVER: Tamer Hosni bawling his eyes out after being booed out of #Tahrir. http://bit.ly/hVDunz #egypt #jan25

@ZyadSherif [9]: Tamer Hosni's video is epic … never laughed this much since the beginning of the revolution :-D #Jan25

@Salameh [10]: LOL. Just saw the video of Tamer Hosni crying. . . Such an actor!! PUBLICITY STUNT

@wasaleh [11]: Disgusting not ironic !!!! @algergawi: Ironic: Tamer ‘Hosny’ calling ‘Hosni’ Mubarak father. #Jan25

@justamira [12]: Man – I hope Tamer Hosni doesn't become a trending topic in my #jan25 timeline .. I will then have to look him up! Horror Oh Horror!

@0rulz0 [13]: LOL What did I miss today? Tamer Hosni bawling his eyes out? #jan25

@TrellaLB [14]: some people cry out of modesty.. others just fake it . enjoy another episode of tamer Hosni's stupidity #Jan25 http://on.fb.me/e2DhLN

@aalmasri [15]: LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL. Tamer Hosni crying after protesters booed him. “they misunderstood me” he says. Hahahahahahaha. http://ow.ly/3SZ2m

@hyperlocavore [16]: Fill in the blank for US audience? Tamer Hosni is the ______________ of Egypt. #tahrir Beiber? Kenny G? Jagger? Timberlake? Lil Wayne?

@dubaijazz [17]: So now after making Tamer Hosni cry the revolution will draw the wrath of Justin Bieber's fan girls’ counterparts in the region.

@Mariovanella [18]: Egyptian singer Tamer Hosni shouted down in #Tahrir Square after trying to speak- army intervened, firing warning shots http://aje.me/hQnjvg

@Omar_Gaza [19]: Tahrir sq. protesters started chanting: Don with Tamer Hosni Mubarak LOL love those people! they r awesome! #jan28

@zaynabon [20]: BEST part of my day is seeing #tamer #hosni booed off stage. HAHAHAHA was he expecting a standing ovation for his idiotic comments? #jan25

@sorsar2011 [21]: People making fun of & rejecting Tamer Hosni, are doing to him, what we hated the regime for doing to us. PLEASE STOP #Egypt #Jan25

This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011 [1].