If you haven’t seen the powerful video by award-winning film director Elie Fahed (Instagram) featuring Nour Arida and Haifa Wehbe that’s been making waves online, you might just be living under a rock. Tackling the pervasive issue of online harassment, this groundbreaking project has sparked important conversations across the region. Yung sits down with Elie Fahed to uncover the inspiration, behind-the-scenes moments, and the impactful message driving this initiative.
What inspired you to take on this project about online harassment? Can you tell us more about how it began with Nour Arida and Haifa Wehbe?
Actually, it all started with Nour Arida. She’s always been a driving force for awareness and women’s rights. She reached out to discuss the idea, and we decided to involve Haifa Wehbe. I created a detailed presentation and explained everything to Haifa, who had never done anything like this before. Honestly, no one in the region had. It’s not about following a trend—it’s about addressing the cruelty we see online. What we showed in the video is only 5% of the harassment both women have received throughout their career.
The video delivers such a powerful message. How did you balance its emotional weight with making it accessible to a wide audience?
The biggest challenge was ensuring the production didn’t overpower the content. Both had to walk hand in hand, supporting Nour and Haifa while letting their voices take center stage. This wasn’t about a flashy film; it was about amplifying their message. I walked into the set with my hand on my heart. I was anxious and worried as nothing was prepared in advance. Nothing was scripted or rehearsed, everything was spontaneous and every reaction was real. They even actually saw the comments and tweets for the first time on camera.
What reactions or emotions were you hoping to evoke in the audience? How has the response been so far?
In less than 24 hours, we’ve already seen women posting screenshots and sparking conversations. The video is making a difference. It’s powerful to see how much movies—and these two women—can inspire change. Online harassment is pervasive, but we’re showing the abusers that they can’t hide forever.
Online harassment often thrives on anonymity. What’s your perspective on how digital platforms can be misused, and how do you hope this video contributes to change?
I actually like the internet. It has helped me a lot. The internet is a beautiful place where like-minded people connect. But it also gives cowards the ability to hide behind screens and attack others without accountability. They’d never say these things in person. I hope this project pushes for changes in laws to prevent fake profiles and hold people accountable. Your name can’t just be ‘xt3_f,’ hurling hatred anonymously.
What challenges did you face working on such a sensitive topic? How did you ensure the message remained honest and impactful?
Honesty was the most important pillar of this project – for the women, the audience, and myself. The trust Nour and Haifa placed in me was overwhelming, and I wanted to honor that by staying true to their voices.
What message do you hope this video sends to women, men, and society at large?
Freedom. People should be free to wear what they want, do what they want, and live without fear of judgment or control. Online harassment affects people deeply, but their freedom and dignity should remain intact. We must all work to make online spaces safer and more respectful.
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