Since the arrest of Istanbul Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, political repression against dissenters in Turkey has intensified significantly—extending into the country’s arts and entertainment industry.
Particularly, actors who have supported opposition calls for boycotts have become prime targets of attacks.
The opposition’s campaign has urged citizens to boycott pro-government companies, state-approved media outlets, and even café chains associated with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The strategy has proven effective, prompting several government officials to accuse the opposition of harming national and domestic brands and damaging Turkey’s economy.
Many Turkish citizens had expected celebrities to take a stand—especially on social media. While some well-known figures met those expectations, others remained silent. Turkish political scientist Berk Esen told DW, “Actors aren’t obligated to comment on politics. But since Turkey is going through a critical period, such public expectations are understandable.”
A number of actors who openly supported the boycott have since faced punishment. Aybüke Pusat, Furkan Andıç, and Boran Kuzum—all of whom starred in series produced by the public broadcaster TRT—were dismissed after showing support for the campaign. Actress Başak Gümülcinelioğlu also lost her job for publicly standing by Pusat.
Two other actors, Rojda Demirer and Alican Yücesoy, found their X (formerly Twitter) accounts blocked, leaving them unable to post. Actor Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu was detained for publicly endorsing the boycott. Although later released, the incident has been widely criticized as an intimidation tactic. All these actors are regular faces in widely popular Turkish TV dramas.
Turkey’s actors’ union has taken an active role in supporting these artists. In a statement, the union emphasized that the nature of pressure on the arts is changing not just in Turkey, but globally.
Political scientist Berk Esen sees a silver lining in the situation. He noted, “Despite 23 years of AKP rule, it’s admirable that young artists now have the courage to publicly oppose the government.” According to him, what’s striking is that these are not individuals known for political activism or partisanship—they are part of a new, younger generation, and their voices represent a hopeful sign for Turkey’s future.
Sociologist Aslı Dalgalı Evren added that, given the entire society is under political polarization and pressure, this new wave of repression was to be expected.
Beyond politicization, Turkey’s acting industry faces several systemic issues. Evren highlighted that actors often work extremely long hours and are frequently underpaid. It is particularly frustrating, she added, that key roles are sometimes assigned not based on talent, but on political affiliation.
While pro-government voices argue that actors should stay out of politics, the actors’ union disagrees. They argue that, apart from institutions like the police, judiciary, and military, no profession can be expected to remain politically neutral. Every citizen should have the right to express their political views.
