{"id":757384,"date":"2025-07-07T08:06:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-07T08:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/?p=757384"},"modified":"2025-07-07T08:06:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T08:06:36","slug":"actor-rita-hayek-replaced-from-lead-role-in-venus-heres-what-happened","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/en\/757384\/actor-rita-hayek-replaced-from-lead-role-in-venus-heres-what-happened\/","title":{"rendered":"Actor Rita Hayek Replaced from Lead Role in &#8220;Venus&#8221;, Here&#8217;s What Happened"},"content":{"rendered":" <p>Lebanese actor <strong>Rita Hayek<\/strong>, who helped bring the play <em>Venus<\/em> to life and played a major role in its international success, has revealed she was unexpectedly replaced from the very role she helped shape. So, what exactly happened?<\/p>    <div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-success-of-venus\">The Success of <em>Venus<\/em><\/h3>    <p><\/p>    <p>First staged in Beirut in 2015, <em>Venus<\/em> is a Lebanese adaptation of the play <em>Venus in Fur<\/em> by David Ives. Directed by Jacques Maroun, the production stood out for its bold themes and sharp dialogue. It explored gender dynamics and control in a way that resonated with local audiences.<\/p>    <p><\/p>   <iframe title=\"Embedded Instagram Post\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"532\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJW7usZsep-\/embed\/\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 12px 0px 12px !important; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;\"><\/iframe>   <p><\/p>    <p>Hayek starred alongside actor Badih Abou Chakra, and the two created a dynamic that turned the play into a hit. The minimal staging allowed the dialogue\u2014and the tension between the characters\u2014to take center stage. Audiences connected with the play\u2019s ability to question traditional gender roles and challenge social expectations. Abou Chakra once <a href=\"https:\/\/today.lorientlejour.com\/article\/1459604\/venus-is-not-a-play-about-sex-but-about-power.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">described<\/a> the performance as a raw and honest space, while Hayek has said the role pushed her to grow deeply, both professionally and personally.<\/p>    <p><\/p>    <p>The play enjoyed multiple successful runs in Lebanon and quickly became one of the most talked-about theatre productions. Its success led to plans for an international tour in 2025, with performances in cities such as Dubai and Montreal. <\/p>    <div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-happened-to-the-lead-role\">What Happened to the Lead Role?<\/h3>    <p><\/p>    <p>When details about the tour emerged, many noticed that Rita Hayek was no longer part of the cast, with actor Rola Beksmati headlining in her place.  <\/p>    <p><\/p>   <iframe title=\"Embedded Instagram Post\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"532\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLsRW6fsa48\/embed\/\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 12px 0px 12px !important; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;\"><\/iframe>   <p><\/p>    <p>In a video she posted on Instagram, Hayek opened up about the situation. Production had removed her from the upcoming international shows. To make matters worse, she said the team continued to use her name to promote upcoming shows. Hayek expressed frustration and disappointment at how the situation was handled.<\/p>    <p><\/p>    <p>While Beksmati is a respected performer, the decision, and especially the way it was communicated, sparked reactions from fans.<\/p>    <p><\/p>   <iframe title=\"Embedded Instagram Post\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"532\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DLr9CbLIHaL\/embed\/\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 12px 0px 12px !important; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;\"><\/iframe>   <p><\/p>    <p>Following the backlash, Bou Chakra posted a statement to his Instagram stories. He wrote:<\/p>    <p><\/p>    <p><em>Rita Hayek is a fundamental pillar and a key partner in the play Venus\u2014there\u2019s no question about that.<br><\/em><\/p>    <p><em>As for the shows in Dubai and Canada, they fall under my professional commitments and prior agreements with producers outside Lebanon. Any issues related to those commitments should be resolved once they are fulfilled.<br><\/em><\/p>    <p><em>Afterward, each person is free to set the conditions they find suitable before starting a new phase\u2014if they wish to continue at all.<\/em><\/p>    <p><\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"472\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Image_20250707_102905_048-472x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-757391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Image_20250707_102905_048-472x1024.png 472w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Image_20250707_102905_048-277x600.png 277w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Image_20250707_102905_048-115x250.png 115w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Image_20250707_102905_048-768x1665.png 768w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Image_20250707_102905_048-709x1536.png 709w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Image_20250707_102905_048-945x2048.png 945w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Image_20250707_102905_048-600x1301.png 600w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Image_20250707_102905_048.png 1179w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px\" \/><\/figure>    <p><\/p>    <p>Many questioned the ethics of replacing a lead actor in such a significant production without transparent communication, especially when that actor played a key role in shaping its identity.<\/p>    <p><\/p>   <iframe title=\"Embedded Instagram Post\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"532\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DLseikRsAki\/embed\/\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 12px 0px 12px !important; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;\"><\/iframe>   <p><\/p>    <p>Fans and fellow actors like Liliane Nemry and Hiam Abou Chedid flooded the comment section under her video with support.<\/p>    <p><\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"826\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2225-1024x826.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-757385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2225-1024x826.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2225-600x484.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2225-250x202.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2225-768x620.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2225.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>    <p><\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2226-1024x586.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-757388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2226-1024x586.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2226-600x343.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2226-250x143.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2226-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_2226.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>    <p><\/p>    <p>As <em>Venus<\/em> moves forward on international stages, the situation raises broader questions about artistic credit, respect for performers, and how creative contributions are acknowledged, or sidelined, once a project gains momentum beyond its original context.<\/p>    <div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>    <p class=\"has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-background\" style=\"font-size:17px\"><strong>Enjoyed this read? 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So, what exactly happened? The Success of Venus First staged in Beirut in 2015, Venus is a Lebanese adaptation of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":757397,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_preview_accessed":0,"footnotes":""},"tags":[1179,1093],"media-embed-type":[],"class_list":["post-757384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-lebanese-cinema","tag-news"],"authorship":[17],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Actor Rita Hayek Replaced from Lead Role in &quot;Venus&quot;, Here&#039;s What Happened &#187; Beirut.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rita Hayek revealed in an Instagram video that she was unexpectedly replaced from the lead role. 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