The poster for the play "Venus" at the Zabeel Theatre in Dubai, starring Badih Abou Chakra and Rola Beksmati in the lead roles, with Beksmati playing the role of Vanda (replacing Rita Hayek). Photo taken from the ticketing site of Zabeel Theatre.
The announcement Friday that Jacques Maroun’s play “Venus” will tour Dubai and Montreal without lead actress Rita Hayek sparked backlash. She will be replaced by Roula Beksmati in the part of Vanda for performances scheduled on Sept. 12 and 13 in Dubai, and Sept. 20 and 21 in Montreal.
Hayek, who starred in the revival alongside Badih Abou Chakra earlier this year in Beirut’s Monnot Theatre, took to Instagram — where she has more than 300,000 followers — to denounce what she called an “injustice.” She urged the public not to support what she described as “an imitation, at best.”
In comments to L’Orient-Le Jour, Hayek said she was “in shock” after learning on July 2 — via a call from Beksmati herself — that she had been replaced. “My work and the character I created are being used with another actress,” she said. “For them, I am replaceable.”
Hayek said she originally proposed adapting Roman Polanski’s 2013 film Venus in Fur, based on David Ives’ play, nearly a decade ago. “I saw the film and pitched the idea to Jacques Maroun. It was a shared vision we built together,” she said, adding that the recent revival was also her initiative.
“Shocked and disappointed” by friends
The actress said a financial dispute was at the heart of the fallout. “There was no written contract. I trusted our friendship,” she said, describing how she rehearsed for three months and performed for another without financial discussion. “Only afterward did I bring up the subject of profit-sharing. What Badih and I were paid was shameful,” she added. “I felt manipulated.”
Hayek said she told Maroun she could not continue and would “close this chapter as [she] started it.” At the time, she claims there was no finalized agreement regarding an international tour. “Later, I found out Jacques Maroun signed with producer Tarek Sikias. In a word, it’s a story of betrayal.”
Producers deny allegations
Contacted by L’Orient-Le Jour, Maroun and Sikias rejected Hayek’s account. “She officially withdrew at the end of May,” Maroun said. Sikias added that Hayek had previously been enthusiastic about the international tour and had been kept informed via a shared WhatsApp group.
Both attributed the rupture to disappointing box office revenue during the Beirut run. “Everyone’s compensation was based on the actual income. I wish it had been higher,” said Maroun.
They say canceling the tour was not an option financially. Maroun also confirmed that planned August performances in Beirut for the diaspora had been canceled and that ticket holders — estimated between 300 and 400 — would be refunded. “I respected her decision to leave, but I have obligations to my team,” Maroun said, citing travel arrangements, visas and booked venues.
Sikias noted that 30 percent of venue costs had already been paid. “Since February, the Dubai shows were scheduled with Rita in the lineup. But after she withdrew in mid-May, I reached out for two weeks asking her to reconsider. When she didn’t, we had to move forward,” he said.
Support and legal threats
Actor Badih Abou Chakra, Hayek’s co-star in the Beirut production, published an Instagram post Saturday affirming her vital role. “She is a pillar of the play,” he wrote. However, he added that the international tour falls under “a prior professional commitment” and that any disputes should be addressed after fulfilling it.
Maroun’s office later issued a statement asserting that “the rights to the Lebanese production of Venus belong exclusively to its producer and director.”
In response, Hayek’s attorney, Gaby Germanos, issued a legal warning: “Who are the creators of Venus? Who holds the artistic and intellectual rights?” He accused the production of exploiting Hayek’s name and image, particularly in promotional materials. “She is now forced to pursue legal action in Lebanon and in any country where the play is staged, to protect her legitimate rights,” the statement read.
