Pro-Mubarak Egyptian singer accuses Pepsi, Coke of being behind revolution

From Al Ahram:

Crooner and music composer Amr Mostafa prompted a flurry of activity on social media after making a host of particularly odd comments on the January 25 Revolution and its instigators.

The once-popular artist is convinced that some renowned global companies were behind the triggering of the 18-day revolt, citing the slogans of these corporations as evidence.

During an interview on Mehwar TV, Mostafa referred to one of Pepsi’s advertising campaign slogans that reads “Express your opinion; who can match you?” saying it was actually a hint dropped by the American company to reveal in a witty manner that it had a hand in the Egyptian uprising.

He also accused Coca-Cola of being involved in the same plot, as he interpreted its slogan “Delivering 125 Years of Happiness” as a reference to the revolution’s date, 25-1-2011.

British telecommunications company Vodafone was also on Mostafa’s list, thanks to its slogan “The power is in your hands.”

Mostafa, who turned out to be one of the most loyal disciples of toppled president Hosni Mubarak and is on the artists’ blacklist, as a result, told TV host Riham Saied in a confident tone: “All the American companies represent the revolution. When you say ‘Express your opinion, who can match you?’ what does that have to do with some beverage?

“Are they trying to say that they were behind the revolution? When you say 125 years, what’s that supposed to mean? When I travelled abroad they told me there is no such thing; so are they trying to refer to the day the revolt began? And what does ‘The power in your hands’ mean?” he said without mentioning the companies’ names.

During the same show, Rasd, Mostafa stirred up more controversy by saying that the word “want” in Arabic is originated from Hebrew, trying to cast doubts over the famous chant “the people want to bring the regime down,” which was repeated quite frequently during the revolution.

The article goes on to note that Egyptians are rightly making fun of him for these ridiculous assertions.