Viral Nude Dance at Liza Sparks Legal Action, Restaurant Remains Open

Post-edit: A previous version of this post incorrectly suggested that authorities had ordered the closure of Liza. The venue remains open.

The Beirut restaurant Liza, located in Achrafieh, has found itself amid a social media fuss following an incident that took place during their New Year’s Eve event that was later widely circulated on social media. Despite initial reports, and at the time of publishing, the restaurant remains open.

The decision to close the restaurant was widely reported after videos emerged showing a person dancing nude inside the restaurant during the celebration. According to the authorities, the incident was deemed to be in violation of Lebanese laws and regulations related to public morals and performances visible to the public.

The restaurant took to their Instagram account to post a clarification, stating that “Liza Beirut remains open and operating as usual”. Going on to say that the individual in the video was not commissioned by the restaurant itself, and that they are handling the matter through legal channels.

The footage, which went viral shortly after the event, shows an individual completely naked while dancing in front of guests, many of whom were filming the scene. It was this public visibility, rather than the event itself, that appears to have triggered the rapid response.

Some media reports have cited sources claiming that the individual involved was not part of the restaurant’s entertainment program or staff, but rather a guest attending the evening. According to these accounts, the episode was unplanned and unfolded spontaneously during the night. These details, however, have not been officially confirmed by any of the parties.

The legal grounds cited in such decisions often rely on broadly defined concepts such as “public morals” and “decency,” which allow authorities to act quickly. Questions regarding oversight, security protocols, and real-time intervention typically follow after the initial measure has been taken.