A friend of mine just sent the following screenshots my way of Jihad el Murr’s explanation of why MTV decided to fire Enta Horr’s Joe Maalouf (link), following the controversial episode during which he criticized Dekawne’s mayor Shakhtoura. I have decided to publish the screenshots because they offer a viable, albeit possibly incomplete alternative, of what happened. And, for the sake of at least trying to sound professional, here they are:
Much of the above makes sense to me for many reasons, most of which revolve around the notion that it was pretty difficult to believe MTV was always okay with what Maalouf was doing on his TV show. Perhaps they didn’t mind him going on a crusade against the politicians ruining Lebanon’s mountains with their quarries but, regardless of what I or anyone might think of the TV station, I believe they had a problem with many of what of the things Maalouf did on the show, such as naming the victims of the Ayntoura school molestation last year, among many other.
I don’t like Joe Maalouf nor his brand of reporting that borders on the sensationalism. But given newly surfacing information that MTV had given him many heads up about the direction they want his show to go through, who can we blame?
I believe the answer goes both ways.
Joe Maalouf, as an employee at MTV, should have stuck with what they were asking of him. After all, this is what employees do. They weren’t asking him not to say his opinion but to present the other side of his opinion as well, which is quite fair.
MTV, on the other hand, should have at least waited until the end of the show’s current season in order for them to do what they want. The timing of firing Maalouf is the key element that led to the outrage at hand. For all of us, the way this appears to be is the following: major Lebanese TV station silencing a comparably irrelevant person because of his opinion regarding a person who’s politically affiliated with their board of directors. And given information that surfaced around the time of the news that Joe Maalouf was fired, Shakhtoura being a Murr-affiliate definitely played a role.
Perhaps the true reason why MTV fired Joe Maalouf is an accumulation of little kinks here and there that broke the chain with him going on a rampage against someone they like being the straw that broke the camel’s back, which is an unacceptable reason for the camel’s back to break in my opinion. However, if they wanted this not to turn into a Lebanese mini-scandal, they could have at least waited and canceled the show very silently in a few months. They can trust me on this: few people would have minded because many remember all the horrific mistakes Maalouf did on his show.
Joe Maalouf or no Joe Maalouf, I hope MTV at leasts decides to hire someone else to fill in Mr. Maalouf’s place in a show that is similar thematically. There are plenty of more professional journalists out there who are waiting on their major break and plenty of facets in our life as Lebanese that need highlighting. It’s a shame an opportunity to light on some injustices in society goes to waste because of a possibly incompetent employee and a politically charged board of directors.
A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares 
They knew what they were getting with his shows. His style of running the show was always obvious to me even if I’ve seen him rarely(so correct me if I’m wrong). So, I blame MTV who stuck with him probably because of the high view rate and went against their principles that Sir Murr just talked about. My thoughts on it.
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They say they gave him many remarks. But, as I said, the timing is the fishy part. Why now after he criticized Shakhtoura?
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They wouldn’t have done anything law ma kein heida taba3 l dekwane ma3 beit l Murr. Joe Maalouf is horrible bass they’re not much better with those excuses.
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Indeed, it’s their hypocrisy that annoys me. Now suddenly that Joe is against this guy, he doesn’t match their views, mentality or whatever. heh
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Precisely. It’s all about the timing.
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That’s what I think but their explanation also warrants exposure because it sheds light on the fact that they weren’t already pleased by him.
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I do not support Joe Maalouf, to say this first. And I don’t like the way he presents the cases on his show. I know I might seem a bit (a lot) too judgmental and generalizing (and trashy), but he’s a Nidal Al Ahmadieh graduate, What more can you expect from him?
He went always after scandals and that’s how he became a hit.
MTV should have put a stop to him in a more discrete way, away from his scandal and propaganda strategies.
Issues should be tackled, someone should start a show that really tackles vital issues but in a civilized way.
Away from politics (which I don’t follow or understand) I somehow understand MTVs decision, but they should have done it in a smoother way.
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I don’t think they expected this to blow up the way it did. But yeah, I don’t like Joe Maalouf and I’d even say good riddance had the show’s cancellation happened later on. That’s the point really – no one would have complained much had the cancellation happened in a smoother way, in a less sensationalism way.
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First of all I would like to thank Mr. Jyad el Murr for the clarification. It was of utmost importance to tell the public about what happened with Joe Maalouf because of all the fuss that is going on. The moment joe Maalouf started his TV show, I had a strong belief that something bad will happen at some point knowing the background of this – sorry to say- uneducated, irresponsible, fame hunting, unprofessional, beginner journalist (the least to say about him). I’ve watched his program couple of times and I’ve never made it till the end of his irrelevant show simply because of the topics he is addressing, and the way he presents. It was a useless TV show (I am glad it ended). I was always wondering how MTV accepts such a person to present such a TV show. I am glad it ended in such a humiliating way so Joe can know his limits and go back to earth, where he belongs. Thinking he is on top of the world goes back to the way he perceives himself. He thinks he knows everything and he can say whatever he wants (he allows himself to say disturbing things on TV, to name people on TV without their approval) thinking he is making a big difference with what he is saying – maybe ? Who knows ? At least not to me. I hope I won’t see him on any other Lebanese TV station because he is a complete embarrassment !
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I second that ! Couldn’t have said it better.
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I agree but don’t you also think that them firing him right after he criticized one of their major mayors is fishy and insincere in itself? They’re both at fault here.
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Fishy or not, I believe it had to be finally done. MTV are at fault here for giving him air time from the beginning. He never should have been on a decent TV station ( jarras is more of his thing anyways, which doesn’t help the credibility of MTV anymore as well). Also I believe postponing his firing until end of season means more controversial episodes, and more trouble for them to recover from. Cut your losses and move on !
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Fishy or not, I believe it had to be finally done. MTV are at fault here for giving him air time from the beginning. He never should have been on a decent TV station ( jarras is more of his thing anyways, which doesn’t help the credibility of MTV anymore as well). Also I believe postponing his firing until end of season means more controversial episodes, and more trouble for them to recover from. Cut your losses and move on !
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Hi Elie, Sorry this comment can be removed now, it was meant to be a reply to your previous comment.
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