Showbiz Arabia

Violent assault leaves Nichan hospitalised

Nichan der Haroutyounian, Lebanon's famous variety host, was assaulted last week. Haroutyounian, presenter of Al Arrab on MBC, will have to stay for a week in the hospital before starting a long convalescence.

He was assaulted by three men on his way home from a late dinner in the mountains near Beirut.

The men followed him, made him get out of the car and then started to hit and kick him in the face.

Haroutyounian broke two fingers and suffered two fractures to his jaw as well as several bruises. He cannot eat and is only able to drink liquids through a straw. Doctors say that he cannot chew and will take at least five weeks to get better.

The TV presenter said that the assault wasn't motivated by theft as the men didn't take his car, watch or credit cards.

If it is not theft, it can't be intimidation either. Haroutyounian is known for his sense of diplomacy and doesn't have enemies in the world of show business. So, who wants to harm Haroutyounian?

Jet setting Haifa

Haifa Wehbe, who recently spent several days on the French Riviera, has started a series of summer concerts. In Lebanon, Haifa sang in a concert with Fadl Chaker.

She then flew to Egypt where she performed in Porto Ghaleb on the northern coast. Other concerts are scheduled in Lebanon and in Egypt for the month of August. On stage, beautiful Wehbe sings both from her old and new repertoire.

Fares Karam's concert brawl

A recent concert by Fares Karam in Carthage, Tunisia, almost turned violent. More than 4,000 people gathered to watch the performance — the first by the Lebanese singer at the Tunisian festival.

But Fares, who planned a two hour concert, had to stop singing an hour and a half later for security reasons. Not all of his fans were able to get seats and many were forced to wait stressed and angry at the entrance. Some tried to start a fight which forced Karam's security team to ask him to stop the concert.

While on stage, the Lebanese singer couldn't stop his tears. He saw his fans singing his songs and thought about his current success.

"A lot of people were betting on the failure of my Carthage concert. They were wrong. I was so happy that I cried," he told reporters.

After Tunisia, he went to Algiers for a concert and then flew to Syria before leaving for a performance in France.

But his growing fame is not helping him make friends. Karam said he was "a little angry" with singer Assi Hallani who told the Tunisian press that Karam has had limited success.

‘100 per cent angry'

Karam said in response to the hurtful remark that he is "100 per cent angry with Assi Hallani" but that he still likes and respects him. "If this is what he thinks of me, I respect his opinion," he added. "I don't want to make a fuss about it especially because this remark was made by Hallani.

"I used to see him sometimes on planes, and would sit near him. I wish him the best. When he launches a new album, I'll be the first one to buy it," he assured.