Lebanese superstar Elissa has sent shockwaves across the region after revealing her silent struggle with cancer in her latest music video.
The singer released the music video for her song "Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni" (For all those who love me) on Tuesday, and rather than a fictional plot, the video depicted her fight against breast cancer during the past year.
Despite being left in tears, viewers managed to breathe a sigh of relief towards the end of the heartbreaking video, when Elissa announced she has overcome the illness.
Directed by Angy Jammal, the clip starts off with a voice-over saying, "It's an early stage of breast cancer," while a woman is seen undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in December 2017.
A real recording of Elissa talking to Jammal, who is also a friend of hers, is then heard in the background.
"You know that moment when you wonder: Will I ever see the people I love again? Those who love me back? Is it that moment, when it's all over? You won't exist tomorrow?" she says.
She goes on to recall what her doctor said when she told him she was "dying of pain."
"Have you lost your mind? You still haven't realized that you have a deadly illness. You live your life as if you had the flu," she quotes him as saying.
Elissa then talks about her daily routine, emphasizing that she hits the studio and hosts concerts despite her condition.
Afterward, she says, "This song is for all the people we love, and I love you so much," and begins singing "Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni."
The song pays tribute to "the beautiful people" who love her and have stood by her side, inviting them to dance, sing, and enjoy life to the fullest.
The video also includes footage from her concert in Dubai back in February, during which she collapsed on stage for reasons that were not announced at the time.
At the end of the video, a statement assuring fans that she has recovered appears on the screen and advises women to seek early detection.
"Don't ignore it, face it"
Social media users express their full support
The music video has taken over social media in the region, with hashtags about the news trending on Twitter.
Here's how people responded: