Lebanese-Born Porn Star Stirs Debate Back Home
A Lebanese-born porn star living in the U.S. has stirred fierce debate back home after her rise to fame split social media users in liberal-yet-conservative Lebanon.
Mia Khalifa, 21, who was born in Lebanon but lives in Miami, last week became the most searched star on adult movie site Porn Hub, with more than 1.5 million views, prompting a mix of scorn and praise from Lebanese commenters.
"You are unworthy. You are only a sex object," posted one Facebook user, alongside an image of the half-naked Khalifa.
"You don't represent Lebanon!" another commenter said on Twitter, where the buxom brunette actress has attracted more than 78,000 followers.
Others leaped to Khalifa's defense, albeit with reservations.
"Mia Khalifa hasn't harmed anyone. It's her body," said a post on the Lebanese blog Philaz. But "we are also free to say that what she is doing isn't 'liberalism' but an attack on freedom."
"You have to admire Mia Khalifa for her audacity," stand up comedian Nemr Abou Nassar said.
Although renowned for its nightlife, smoldering female pop stars and legal alcohol consumption unlike most other Arab states, parts of Lebanese society remain deeply conservative.
Last year, Lebanese Olympic skier Jackie Chamoun found herself at the center of a scandal after a video emerged of her taking part in a topless photo shoot, shocking many but also sparking online expressions of support.
Several photos posted online of Khalifa appear to show the actress sporting a tattoo on her left arm of a verse from the Lebanese national anthem.
"Lebanon has always been a pioneer among Arab countries," a commentator said.
In a country more used to bad news, including a deteriorating security situation due to the conflict in neighboring Syria, viewers were greeted with images of Khalifa on national television bulletins.
"Mia Khalifa is the first Lebanese who publicly boasts of practicing such a profession," said al-Jadeed television.
Lebanon has struggled to deal with a mass influx of refugees from the war in Syria and 25 of its soldiers and police are being held captive by jihadists.
Several commentators even chose to play on the names of Khalifa (caliph in Arabic) and self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State jihadist group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
"Who do you prefer as caliph? Mia or al-Baghdadi? I prefer Mia Khalifa!" said one Lebanese Twitter user.
07 January 2015, 14:18
10
Just a question to ask they are against her...what about the singers in Lebanon ...they are a religious, really the lebanese hid behind their fingers.
07 January 2015, 14:22
22
So we’re defending pornstars now!? What do they mean by she didn’t hurt anyone? She has damaged Lebanese Women image, she has entered the vicious circle of women slavery and promoted it, she has degraded her womanhood to a sexual object no more…
By the way on her Newsweek interview she stated being a Lebanese Forces supporter, and has a LF logo tattooed on her wrist. Just saying
07 January 2015, 16:11
21
Kesrweneh, She has damaged Lebanese women image,
I bet the jewish elites that run the porn industry are having a field day with her, you don`t become a porn star unless you are chosen. Amazing how easily some people can be bought.
07 January 2015, 17:57
12
she is a human being that is free to do with her life as she chooses. You don't have to agree with her choices but you certainly don't have the right to decide her life for her. That is called freedom. Lebanese women's image are not her responsibility. Each individual is responsible for their own image. I don't agree with what she is doing but I support her right to choose!
07 January 2015, 21:13
00
big John- it is your right to criticize her as much as it is her right to be a paid whore. I was merely responding to the statement that she "hurt" Lebanese Women. that is absurd! people are judged by their actions and not the actions of someone who happens to be from the same country. By that account, then i must be a terrorist because HA is a terrorist. How stupid is that????
Yes flamer, the way i interpreted Kesrweneh's comment was that she is hurting Lebanese women and she should be held responsible. I could be wrong, but that is how i understood it.
07 January 2015, 19:25
00
If you don't like seeing her naked, do as a free man has the option to do and don't look. But she's also exposed your hypocritical weakness as well, since for all of your self-righteous declarations you can't even control yourself, but think that "the woman" should still do all of your growing up for you too and make herself a slave to your inadequacy. So much for how you care for the Lebanese Women's image.
Oh, and I'd prefer to defend a porn-star - Lebanese or not - any day over defending a psychopathic war-criminal and high traitor or the leader of a foreign militant occupation force. Just sayin'.
07 January 2015, 19:25
00
Oh? Because the much beloved image of the "Lebanese Woman" that she's tarnishing is the one that appears in the obituary pages after her husband had brutally murdered her? Ooh, I'm sure she's sorry.
And now I'm not saying she hasn't hurt anybody - she's obviously hurt your ego, because she is doing whatever she feels like doing with herself, and you, the "man", can't do anything to stop her from exercising her freedom of expression.
07 January 2015, 16:14
11
FT, i see your post got deleted again. Naharnet, why not just limit your comment section to your preferred guests so that way you can save the rest of us the grief of posting comments, only to have them removed.
08 January 2015, 07:58
00
No difference between heroine and porn. Why defending her. She is just looking for insult not respect.
What is that great talent to be proud of. I bet that my dog performed sex in a great way and may deserve the gold medal. Mia khalifaporn should remember that she will die poor and hungry. Few years from now she will be deserted and replaced by younger.
Sure it is her body and free to do what she likes but what about to look further than her nose to her future .
