Merve Özbey left the city before the concert due to security reasons! The Mayor expressed anger: A moment of madness.

Merve Özbey, who is known for her powerful voice and style, did not appear minutes before her concert, which was organized as part of the 40th Karabiga Priapos Sea Festival by the Karabiga Municipality in Çanakkale's Biga district. The harshest reaction to Özbey's decision came from Karabiga Mayor Ahmet Elbi.

"SHE DID NOT GO ON STAGE AND LEFT THE CITY FOR SECURITY REASONS"

In his post on Instagram, Elbi said that the concert was canceled because the singer did not go on stage, citing "security" reasons, and left the city, causing distress to the concertgoers. Elbi targeted Özbey and said the following: "The Merve Özbey concert, which we, as the Karabiga Municipality, were going to organize as part of the 40th Karabiga Priapos Sea Festival, was canceled due to the singer's refusal to go on stage at the stage where the 27-member Darbuka Rhythm Group performed and her leaving the city. The stage setup is provided by the organizing company. In her first announcement on her social media account, the singer blamed our municipality, but then realized her mistake and deleted the post, targeting the organizer company instead. The security of the people on stage and our citizens is ensured by our security forces."

"THIS DECISION IS A MENTAL ECLIPSE, AN INJUSTICE TO OUR PEOPLE"

"We consider the decision of Merve Özbey, a singer, to make such a decision in our city, which is a symbol of peace and security like Karabiga, as a mental eclipse and an injustice to our people, who have filled the concert area since early hours and have been waiting for hours, including our fellow citizens from Karabiga and many other places near and far. We apologize to our people for the embarrassment caused and leave it to the conscience of our citizens who filled the area from 7 to 77. "

STATEMENT FROM MERVE ÖZBEY'S SIDE: THERE WERE SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS

After Elbi's statements, Merve Özbey responded through her lawyer, claiming that the stage was built with wooden pieces and most of the iron parts were held together with tape. The law firm, which shared videos of the damaged areas on the stage and made a statement regarding the issue, used the following expressions:

"The necessity of making this statement has arisen due to the unfounded allegations and defamatory speeches that have occupied the public opinion about our client Merve Özbey since last night. Our client, together with her team, arrived at the concert area in the morning to perform at the open-air concert in accordance with the agreement made with Alp Ajans Organization Company at the stage belonging to Karabiga Municipality in Çanakkale on 06/07/2024. As in every concert before the concert, the technical team of our client examined whether the Technical Specification sent to the Organization company was complied with, toured the concert area, and identified some technical deficiencies that could cause serious accidents during the concert. "

"BROKEN COLUMNS WERE TAPED TOGETHER"

"As evidenced by all the details, photographs, and video recordings, some of the columns that hold the stage are made of wood, some of them are broken and taped together with tape, and some of them are stuck together with tape so that the columns can support each other. It is also shown that the electrical cables are hanging down from the stage without any safety precautions, and a few of the images showing these discrepancies are presented to you, our esteemed citizens. "

"SHE DID NOT GO ON STAGE TO PROTECT HER HEALTH"

"Our client contacted the authorized persons in order to eliminate all these security gaps until the last moment and ensure a smooth concert organization. It was stated that the commitments made before the concert would be fulfilled in order to ensure a smooth concert and prevent any problems for our citizens. Otherwise, it was stated that she would not be able to go on stage in order to protect the health of herself, her team, and the audience, considering all the potential dangers.

Our client has been in the music industry for years and has participated in numerous concert organizations, and Technical Specifications, which take into account the safety of the stage crew as well as the safety of all citizens coming to the concert area, have been sent to the organizing companies before every organization, including this organization. In this incident, serious violations were committed by the organizing company and the relevant administration, even though the issues specified in the Technical Specification were very clear. "

"THIS IS MERVE ÖZBEY'S FIRST FAILURE TO PERFORM"

Despite all these efforts, our client, who contacted the authorized individuals to ensure a trouble-free concert organization by eliminating the existing security vulnerabilities until the last moment, had to leave the concert area with sadness because she could not see the results of her efforts and had to prioritize preventing all potential dangers to herself, her team, and her fans who came to watch her. This is also her first failure to perform in a concert. "

"WE WILL INITIATE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS FOR INSULTS AND DEFAMATION"

"Despite all these efforts, since last night, the accounts of the employees of the Organization Company and other third parties who have been trying to suppress the crime, knowing very well that they have come to this point with their own shame and faults, and not hesitating to insult and speak ill of our client's physical integrity and artist identity, are being followed one by one by our team. We would like to inform you, our esteemed public, that all legal rights of our client will be defended to the fullest extent on a legal basis, and that legal proceedings will be initiated against all individuals who make statements, comments, and shares that are defamatory and contrary to the Turkish Penal Code and other legislation regarding our client, and that damage is caused to her professional career with such defamatory sentences and false accusations.