21.08.2025 23:24
The debate that started between Defne Samyeli, who said, "I am not from Turkey, I am Turkish," and Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı escalated. Kütahyalı, targeting Samyeli's origins, said, "Years later, she denied being an Alevi from Malatya." Samyeli responded sharply, saying, "I am neither from Malatya nor an Alevi. You are a liar! Look at who I am, not the roots given to me."
The discussion between actress and host Defne Samyeli and Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, which was brought to social media, created a stir. Samyeli, who drew attention with her response to the question "Are you a White Turk?" during a program she attended, responded harshly to Kütahyalı's claims.
"I AM NOT FROM TURKEY, I AM TURKISH"
Defne Samyeli had responded to the question "Are you a White Turk?" posed to her during a television program by saying, "I don't know about being white, but I am Turkish. I am not from Turkey, I am Turkish."
KÜTAHYALI'S IDENTITY OUTBURST: DENIED YEARS LATER
Following this statement, Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı responded to Samyeli's words on social media, saying, "Defne Samyeli is originally from Malatya. Her father's and grandfather's roots were known to be Alevi from Malatya. She denied this years later." Kütahyalı continued his statements, saying, "You curse the Ottoman heritage while boasting that you are 'from Istanbul.' These are all pathological and traumatic things. Are you going to force people to say 'I am Turkish' like Nazi oppression? We need to embrace all our brothers who say 'I am from Turkey but not Turkish.'
SAMYELI'S HARSH RESPONSE: YOU LIAR
Defne Samyeli, who responded to Kütahyalı's claims with a long post on the social media platform X, used harsh expressions directly mentioning his name. Starting her words with "You liar," Samyeli included the following statements in her explanation: "I am currently violating a principle of mine; since the strings are in the hands of others, I generally do not consider trolls who change their speech, side, party, and language according to where their food comes from. Their glorious past already reveals what they serve. This person has taken it upon himself to interpret my words 'I am not from Turkey, I am Turkish.' He confidently shouts that I am from Malatya and Alevi as if he gave birth to me, my father, and my ancestors.
"HOW CAN YOU TELL SUCH A LIE?"
Divine ROK... How can you tell such a lie about people? Why did you get so triggered just because I said I am Turkish? Is it because of the duty assigned to you? Are you trying to destroy the 'nation-state' unity with ethnic identity emphasis by meddling in every agenda?"
"LISTEN TO ME CAREFULLY"
Samyeli, continuing her words, also responded clearly to the "origin" claims directed at her, saying, "Don't worry. Even if you were fire, you could only burn as much as my size. That is not a place of great authority, you are aware of that. Now listen to me carefully: I could have been from Malatya and Alevi. That would not change the fact that I am Turkish. I embrace our Malatya and Alevi citizens with all my heart. I am neither from Malatya nor Alevi. And I am not even a Sabbatean as claimed by other mindless instigators. Where I was born is not important, but I was born in Istanbul."
"I WOULD NOT TAKE THIS MAN SERIOUSLY BUT…"
In the final part of her statement, Samyeli used expressions referring to Kütahyalı without naming him, saying, "I would not take this man seriously as a counterpart; however, since he used my name while setting a new level of audacity and deceit, I felt it was my duty to point out who has been assigned to promote 'Turkishness.' Those who trust their words are either intentional, assigned, trolls, or mindless. There may be innocent citizens who do not know where they stood in the past and what they defended; let me remind them today, as a patriot who loves his country and an admirer of Atatürk, it is my duty."