Cem Yılmaz reacts to TRT: 'Can you also say they shouldn't pay the contribution fee?'

As the boycott campaign initiated by the CHP in response to the detention and arrest process of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu expands across the country, the removal of actress Aybüke Pusat, who supported the boycott, from the cast of the TRT series 'Teşkilat' has caused a major stir.

TRT, which announced that Pusat was removed from the series for supporting the boycott call, stated that this decision was made within the framework of the institution's 'impartial public broadcasting principles.' TRT management emphasized that it is unacceptable for people working for a public channel to participate in political campaigns, and also announced that the episodes in which Pusat appeared would be removed from the script.

REACTION FROM Cem Yılmaz: 'TRT MUST BE IMPARTIAL'

While reactions to Aybüke Pusat's removal from the series have come from the art and media world, one of the most notable statements came from famous comedian Cem Yılmaz. In a post on his social media account, Yılmaz stated that TRT should be impartial and criticized the dismissal of artists due to their political views.

Yılmaz used the following expressions in his post:

'My dear followers, it is understood from today's statement by our state channel TRT that actors who show reaction are being removed from series. Are these people not artists who practice their profession with their talents? Does this mean that people who freely express their own political opinions cannot take part in TRT productions? Wasn't TRT our state channel? Wasn't it supposed to be impartial? I am sorry TRT, you should have been impartial on this matter.'

Cem Yılmaz also brought up the issue of the TRT contribution fee by emphasizing TRT's understanding of public broadcasting:

'You should do what you suggest to everyone yourself! So are you saying that actors loved by the public should not work at TRT? Well, can you say that those who don't want to shouldn't pay the TRT contribution fee either? No, you can't. Then what?'

My dear followers, it is understood from today's statement by our state channel TRT that our actor friends who you say 'react, react' are being removed from series. Are these friends of ours not people who practice their profession with their talents? Their own political opinions freely...

— Cem Yılmaz (@CMYLMZ) April 2, 2025

News Source: 12punto