20.01.2026 20:16
Deniz Seki, who was long criticized for her words "A man who goes to prison cannot be an artist" directed at Bayhan during her jury membership in the Popstar Turkey competition, clarified the past controversies years later. Stating that the misunderstanding between them is now behind, Seki expressed her openness to the idea of doing a duet with Bayhan, surprising the tabloid agenda.
The polemic that took place years ago between Deniz Seki and Bayhan, which has long been etched in memory, has come back to the agenda.
"THERE CAN BE NO ARTIST FROM A MAN WHO GOES TO PRISON" WORDS ETCHED IN MEMORY
The "Popstar Turkey" competition, which aired in the early 2000s, was widely discussed not only for its music performances but also for the jury comments. In 2003, Deniz Seki, who was on the jury, received significant backlash for her statements about contestant Bayhan.
After it was revealed that Bayhan had previously been imprisoned, Seki stated, "We should not crown Bayhan. The Turkey Popstar competition is not a competition of compassion and embrace. We know the criteria that a popstar should have, but there is something that should never be. A popstar cannot commit murder. There can be no artist from a man who goes to prison. We must excommunicate these from society," she said.
LATER, SHE HERSELF WENT TO PRISON
In the years that followed, Deniz Seki's life also went through a significant turning point. The famous singer spent 2.5 years in prison due to a drug trafficking conviction in 2015 and was later released. This process led to the public recalling her past statements.
SURPRISE OFFER: LET'S DO A DUET SO EVERYONE CAN BE QUIET
In a recent program, Deniz Seki expressed her discomfort about the past events being brought to the present while speaking about Bayhan. Seki stated that her decision to leave the competition was not related to Bayhan and expressed that the events of that day were interpreted differently.
55-year-old Seki also expressed that she is open to making music with Bayhan, saying, "I have no problem with the kid. He is a very respectful, sweet child. Honestly, I might do a duet with him soon so everyone can be quiet. Let's sit down and write a song together. We have no issues. But it is still being talked about," she stated.