Wave of Resignations Among Radio and Television Hosts
The wave of resignations among radio and television hosts has been triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent protests. The one-sided performance of the national media in dealing with the people’s protests, ignoring their demands, and its biased approach, although not new, has led to an increasing number of resignations from the organization each day due to the extent and prolongation of the protests, the insistence of the national media on biased handling, and the public pressure on media figures and celebrities to show solidarity.
Barbod Babaei
Barbod Babaei, who had previously supported the protesters on his Instagram before resigning, wrote in a story on his Instagram page: I, Barbod Babaei, after twenty-four years in the media, announce that I will not host any programs, including ‘Zoj-e-No’, until the people of my country are happy and content. Babaei was the host of programs such as ‘Shab-e-Kook’ and ‘Zoj-e-No’, and despite the audience’s anticipation for the new season of ‘Zoj-e-No’, he announced that he is not willing to host the program. Previously, Peyman Dehkordi, an actor in the series ‘Gando’, had also reacted to recent events in Iran by releasing a video and announced that he has retired from acting.
Mohammad Hassani
Mohammad Hassani, a host on the Health Network, also resigned from Radio and Television. In a post on his Instagram account, he announced that it has been 20 days since he said goodbye to Radio and Television. He continued, writing: For all the warnings, for all the words we swallowed, for all the ideas you told us to bring our own sponsors for, and for the budget you gave to your own cronies, for my own peace, for you, my people.
Peyman Sheikhi
Peyman Sheikhi, with 16 years of collaboration with Radio and Television, also announced his resignation by posting on his Instagram page. He wrote: Every time I sat behind the radio microphone or in front of the television camera, I tried my best to convey a sense of hope and peace to my audience. The joy and awareness of the audience were important to me, and I loved the people dearly because I am one of them. These days, my spirit does not allow me to continue hosting, so I say goodbye to radio and television. As a tradition at the end of all the programs I hosted on radio and television, I say: May your luck be smooth, your dignity constant, and may you be under the eternal protection of God’s kindness.
Majid Ghazanfari
Majid Mirghazanfari also announced that he does not intend to host programs on television. Majid Mirghazanfari was a host on the Health Network and, in recent years, one of the experts and hosts of programs related to the environment.
Kimia Gilani
Kimia Gilani was the host of the competition ‘Kahkeshaniha’, which was broadcast live on Channel 5. The incident for her occurred when a film of Kian Pirfalak was shown in this competition. The broadcast of that film, which faced negative reactions from the audience, led Kimia Gilani to announce on her personal Twitter account that she will no longer host and will not return to television. Gilani wrote: I, Kimia Gilani, entered the field of hosting on July 6, 2006, and truly worked hard for it, studied, and had no goal other than to bring joy to my people’s hearts. Now that my people are not happy, there is no need for my presence, and I say goodbye to hosting on television.
Mojtaba Pourbakhsh
Mojtaba Pourbakhsh, a former host and producer of the program ‘Football Yek’, was not resigned but was fired from Radio and Television due to his support for the people’s protests. On November 1 and 12, he posted a picture of his car on Twitter, writing: My father taught me not to sell my honor cheaply, not to extend my hand to the unworthy. I put my car up for sale, but I won’t auction off my honor and intelligence. It is said that he is now battling cancer, and the decision to sell the car is to cover treatment costs.
Farhad Farahbakhsh
Farhad Fakhrbakhsh, host of the program ‘Shoma va Sima’, also announced his resignation from collaborating with Radio and Television by releasing a video. Farhad Fakhrbakhsh is an Iranian cinema and television producer. One of his most significant works includes participating in the program ‘Limo Torsh’. In 2016, Farhad Fakhrbakhsh had a busy period in cinema and television and was involved in producing an important work, which is considered his significant activity in the program ‘Limo Torsh’ that year.
Majid Ghazanfari
Recently, Majid Mirghazanfari also announced the termination of his collaboration with Radio and Television, stating that he worked for years in this organization to be the voice of demand and justice-seeking but now feels he has no reason to remain in the media frame. Davood Abedi, a reporter, broadcaster, and host on the News Network, also announced in a post that he is withdrawing from television and Radio and Television.
Davood Abedi
Davood Abedi, who worked for years as a reporter and host on the News Network, reporting and hosting numerous programs, recently announced his departure from Radio and Television through a post on his Instagram page. He is the husband of Elmira Sharifi Moghaddam, another famous host on the News Network and Radio and Television. Abedi was an active journalist at Radio and Television who has now decided to cease his presence on television due to recent events.
Travel Ban on Ali Zia and Mahmoud Shahriaari
Mahmoud Shahriari, a former host of Radio and Television, who has been banned from appearing on television multiple times, was arrested in the early days following Mahsa Amini’s death for supporting the people’s protests. It was reported that Shahriari was arrested yesterday by a judicial order for inciting unrest and aligning with the rioters. Ali Zia, a prominent television host and producer, was also banned from traveling after recent events and posting several responses on social media to Mahsa Amini’s death, the lack of action against cinema police, and the rising dollar prices.
Zahra Khatami Rad
Resignation from collaborating with Radio and Television in protest of its biased performance is not new. In December 2019, just two months after the events of that November, Zahra Khatami Rad, a television host, posted a photo saying: Yesterday, one of the senior managers of the organization called and said, ‘This is your home, don’t be estranged from your home.’ I explained my reasons and thanked them. Today, I add this sentence: Shame on me if I return.
Alongside these figures, Ehsan Karami can also be mentioned, who, although he had ended his collaboration with Radio and Television some time ago and was living in the USA, began posting on social media and appearing on the program ‘Manoto’ following the start of the people’s protests.