Egyptian lawyer Samir Sabri, infamous for suing celebrities, is at it again. This time around, the defendant is American actress and singer Jennifer Lopez.
While JLo's recent concert in Israel slid by with no repercussions, her revealing outfit during her performance in Egypt did not — Yep, Sabri's priorities are definitely in check.
The lawyer has decided to file a lawsuit against the singer for appearing "naked" during her first-ever concert in Egypt, which was held last Friday in the northern coastal city of El Alamein.
JLo took the stage in El Alamein in multiple racy outfits - similar to those she has worn in concerts across the world - featuring flashy leotards, thigh-high slits, and plunging necklines. Naturally, Sabri had plenty to say on the matter.
Speaking to local media, the lawyer bashed the pop star for appearing in "transparent and naked attire that violates Egyptian norms and traditions." He then announced plans to file a lawsuit against Lopez and the concert's organizers, calling upon authorities to ban her from entering Egypt in the future.
He went on to criticize the timing of the concert in light of the recent terrorist attack in Cairo as well as the fact that her performance took place in the last 10 days of the Hijri month Dhu al-Hijjah, during which Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Sabri also called out female ministers who attended the concert and wore white clothes, despite the recent "painful terrorist incident."
"It's unacceptable for some people to be (performing religious rituals) in Mount Arafat while others watch a star perform in controversial attire," he said.
The sold-out concert, which came as part of JLo's "It's My Party" tour in celebration of her 50th birthday, saw the star perform 20 years worth of hits. In attendance were a number of regional A-listers, including actress Mona Zaki, actor Hussein Fahmy, and comedian Ahmed Helmy.
According to Harper's Bazaar, some of the outfits in question were designed by Arab designers, namely Egyptian Nagwa Zahran as well as Lebanese Zuhair Murad and Nicolas Jebran. She also flaunted thigh-high boots by Lebanon's Andrea Wazen.
This wouldn't be the first time Sabri takes legal action against female celebrities. In late 2018, he and fellow lawyer Amro Abdelsalam lodged a complaint to Egypt's chief prosecutor about Egyptian actress Rania Youssef's outfit at the Cairo International Film Festival.
Youssef had walked the red carpet in a see-through dress that revealed her legs, which subsequently led to "public obscenity" charges against her.
"(Her appearance) did not meet societal values, traditions and morals and therefore undermined the reputation of the festival and the reputation of Egyptian women in particular," Sabri told Agence France-Presse (AFP) at the time.
The lawsuit was later withdrawn after Youssef made a public apology.
On another, perhaps more controversial, note, JLo's performance in Egypt was preceded by a show in Israel.
Hundreds of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) supporters had urged Lopez to backtrack on her scheduled concert via the hashtag #JLoDontGo, citing Israel's illegal occupation that has subjected Palestinians to decades of injustice. Despite the full-fledged campaign, the singer performed in Tel Aviv's Park Hayarkon on August 1st.
"The motherland Israel!!! First time here. I'm in love!! Energy off the charts," Lopez wrote on Instagram.
BDS activists then called for Egypt to cancel Lopez's concert and asked people to boycott the latter, explaining that the singer should not be allowed to sing in Egypt because she showed "clear support for the state of occupation and its racist policies towards Palestinians." However, their efforts did not come to fruition.