Actress and singer Layal Daou has posted a heartbreaking tribute to the late Lebanese composer and musician Ziad Rahbani, sharing rare photos from their past engagement. Daou, who had a long-term artistic and personal relationship with Rahbani, shared the images on her TikTok account, memorializing a love story that began years ago but ultimately ended in a silent farewell.
The photos, shared for the first time, offer a glimpse into a relationship that was kept largely private, away from the public eye. The images serve as a poignant, silent testament to their unfulfilled love story. In her post, Daou’s comment was simple but powerful: “He killed me,” a phrase she used to express the profound pain and grief of losing Rahbani.
One of the photos shows Rahbani placing an engagement ring on Daou’s finger, both smiling happily as the song “Love Story” plays in the background. The second photo captures the couple in a warm embrace while Fairuz’s song “Sallimli Aleih” (“Say Hello to Him”), a tribute to Rahbani’s mother, plays. This added a deeply emotional layer to the image.
Although the engagement didn’t lead to marriage, Daou confirmed in her replies to followers that it was a formal event attended by both families. The reasons for their separation were never disclosed.
A Decade of Artistic Collaboration
Daou’s relationship with Rahbani was more than just a personal one; it was a professional partnership that spanned ten years. She collaborated with him on many of his musical performances, worked in his recording studio, and was a member of his band. Daou also performed with Rahbani in his play, Concerning Dignity and the Stubborn People, where her acting skills shined alongside the legendary artist.
This blend of personal and professional connection formed a deep bond that lasted for years, ending as quietly as it began—without any media fanfare.
Layal Daou: A Look at Her Career
Layal Daou, who studied media at the Lebanese University, discovered her true passion in acting and the arts. Though she never directly pursued journalism, she became a prominent figure in satirical TV shows, social plays, and Lebanese TV series. She also participated in political musical theater alongside some of the country’s biggest names.
Ziad Rahbani’s Unforgettable Impact
Despite their relationship ending years before his death, Daou never hid her deep admiration for Rahbani. She praised him not only as a brilliant composer but as the most important musical arranger in the Arab world. She previously stated that she felt honored to have worked with him, recorded in his private studio, and been a part of his band.
Daou still keeps his scripts and music close to her heart and considers his plays a constant source of inspiration. If she had the chance to perform in one of his plays again, she says she would choose Something Useless, which she knows by heart and considers to be the truest reflection of Rahbani’s spirit and his satirical, critical style.
