His İmamoğlu statement drew backlash: Metin Yıldız responds to 'opportunist' criticisms! A striking jab at Özgür Özel's Aybüke Pusat statement!

Actor Metin Yıldız, known for his work with the 'Çok Güzel Hareketler Bunlar' troupe, had previously explained his reasons for not supporting the protests against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Sharing a photo taken with İmamoğlu in 2014, Yıldız cited his reason for silence as having called İmamoğlu for a film project, claiming that İmamoğlu did not answer his calls.

Yıldız had used the following expressions in his post:

Hello friends,

I have been receiving intense demand these days, both through my social media accounts and personally. Oh, why am I staying silent, why am I not posting, why am I not calling for a boycott, oh my, oh my...

Shall I tell you why?

None of you knew the friend with the microphone in the photo.

He was the Beylikdüzü Mayoral Candidate, the year was 2014, and I was by his side.

He won. I didn't call. I didn't make any demands.

In 2019, I was in Fatsa, there was a pandemic. He said 'Everything will be very beautiful,' I believed him. I left my mother and father, traveled 2000 km, and voted for him.

He won. Two years later, I called for a cinema film, for art. He didn't answer. I sent a message. He didn't return it. I called his aide. He didn't write back. A response came: The gentleman is busy. I called again. Very busy. I sent an email. Unfortunately, they are very, very, very busy...

For five years, he has been busy; we can never reach him.

I look around, and those who weren't by his side that day are all together now, engaged in intense artistic activities :)

Now I am writing this here for those who ask why I don't post anything... If anyone asks, tell them:

I am very busy..”

Many users on social media reacted to this statement by calling Yıldız an 'opportunist.' Following the backlash, Yıldız made a new statement. Responding to the 'opportunist' criticisms, Yıldız said, “Let's speak more openly. Yes, I voted for my own interests. Just like everyone else. It depends on what your interest is. Of course, I have expectations from the mayor I elected, just as you do.”

At the end of his post, Yıldız also touched upon Aybüke Pusat, who was removed from the series 'Teşkilat' for supporting a boycott. Without mentioning Aybüke Pusat's name, Yıldız referred to the famous actress as “a third-place beauty pageant winner,” while making a jab at CHP leader Özgür Özel's statement: “Wherever Aybüke acts, we will make it break records; whichever series she is in, we will support it.”

The full text of Yıldız's statement is as follows:

“Hello friends. Let's speak more openly. Yes, I voted for my own interests. Just like everyone else. It depends on what your interest is. Of course, I have expectations from the mayor I elected, just as you do..

Some of you expect justice, some a clean environment, some a solution to traffic, some jobs, some bread..

For 5 years, he served as the mayor of Beylikdüzü; I neither called nor asked for anything, I didn't perform in any of his halls, nor did I have any requests from the municipality..

To the person who rolled up his sleeves and said, 'Don't be silent, artists, everything will be very beautiful,'

I voted in line with my interests. An artist first calls the mayor of the city for a cinema film they want to shoot in Istanbul..

They call the governor, they call the police, they call the fire department. It's a film, after all, an artistic activity... It is mandatory to call these. So I called, what's wrong with that? Can't I call the mayor? Can't I talk to the culture department?

Then why did I vote? Why? Didn't he say we stand by the artist? He did. Then he should stand by me. Whether he supports it or not is a separate issue. But if a person doesn't listen to their artist, who will they listen to.. Yes, I pursued an interest like making art; if that's what you mean by opportunist, then I am an opportunist.

Now, they all embraced a third-place beauty pageant winner who was fired from TRT. Oh, let's support our girl. Support her, of course. They say they will make millions watch her. Let them watch, of course. But... My brother, there are hundreds of conservatory graduates or thousands of young talents who have been trained, and/or hundreds of master actors who voted for you... Make them watch those too, what are you waiting for.. They aren't popular, right? They aren't useful to you..

I am an opportunist, my brother; seeking the rights of all those left behind is my greatest interest..

Let those who are making accusations now draw some conclusions from this too...”