The BIAF (Beirut International Awards Festival) 2025 in Beirut was not short on drama. Amid elegant red-carpet looks and anticipated awards, an indirect clash between two major stars, Assala Nasri and Maya Diab, stole the spotlight. The exchange of sharp words reignited a long-standing feud that had previously been kept out of the public eye.
The Feud’s Spark
The initial tension began two days before the festival during a press conference for Assala at the Jerash Festival. When asked for her opinion on Maya Diab’s new album, Assala responded in a surprisingly dismissive manner. With a sarcastic smile, she simply asked, “Who?” and repeated the question, then added, “She released an album? Congratulations. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard it.”
To steer the conversation away from any further awkward questions, Assala quickly shifted back to the topic of art. “Let’s keep the conference about music and be happy together,” she said. “I came here with a lot of love and I’m really tired. I sat down for you all and tried my best not to be late.” She also expressed enthusiastic admiration for singer Amr Diab, calling him “wonderful” and “amazing.”
Maya Diab’s Fiery Response
Maya Diab didn’t stay silent for long. Her response was equally sharp, delivered in a clear attack during a press interview after receiving her award in Beirut. Maya directly addressed Assala, stating, “First, I want to tell her that she’s a very rude person. I wish ‘She Zip It’… and if you need to translate that for her in Arabic because she won’t understand the English word.” This clear jab at Assala’s English language skills caused a massive stir among the public.
She continued, “I hope I don’t have time to hold a non-artistic press conference and talk about Assala. Thank you.” Her words conveyed clear anger and a rejection of what she perceived as an attempt to diminish her artistic standing. Some of her fans quickly came to her defense, describing Assala’s comments as an unprovoked attack.
A History of Tension
The conflict between the two stars is not new. In past statements, Maya Diab had hinted that her relationship with Assala was inconsistent. “Assala is a good person, but she’s sometimes impulsive, both positively and negatively. The incident that happened between us was embarrassing, and I don’t like to talk about it, especially since we have a history together.”
The feud had remained mostly private until it resurfaced in a way that surprised many fans, who had hoped for a reconciliation. This was especially true after a previous interview where Maya had said, “No one knows what tomorrow might bring… as long as a relationship doesn’t cause harm… I would go back.”
In an earlier TV interview, Maya had shared some details of the conflict that arose more than a year ago. She stressed that she prefers not to discuss her personal relationships publicly, refusing to turn her private life into a public discussion on social media. “My friendship with Assala is over,” she stated. “Today, I have other friendships with artists in the industry, but I don’t like my personal life to be a public topic of discussion. That topic has been closed for a long time.”
Despite the tense relationship, Maya has maintained that she holds no grudge against Assala. She took a forgiving stance, saying, “I won’t accept negative talk like that being directed at me. I always wish her all the best, success, and good health. That kind of talk doesn’t come from me, or from my heart. I only see people with love.” This balanced approach, combining firm boundaries on private matters with a commitment to mutual respect, reflects a side of Maya that prefers to move past conflicts without media escalation—even if her recent words at BIAF suggested the opposite, perhaps due to the heat of the moment.
Divided Audience and a Distracted Festival
Audience reactions have been mixed. Some believed Assala’s response was merely spontaneous or sarcastic, while others saw it as a deliberate attempt to belittle Maya. Conversely, Maya Diab’s fans fiercely defended her reaction, arguing it was completely justified.
Meanwhile, the BIAF organizers found themselves in the middle of an unexpected media frenzy. Instead of the focus being on the awards and artistic appearances, much of the media attention shifted to the heated exchange, which stole the spotlight from one of Beirut’s most important annual artistic events.
