SHAH ALAM - Actor Datuk Aaron Aziz has reportedly taken legal action against an individual accused of cyberbullying and spreading defamatory remarks about him and his family, following the online controversy surrounding his comments related to the Palestine issue.
This was confirmed by his wife, Diyana Halik, who took to Instagram to express her sadness and frustration over the situation, saying it has caused emotional distress to their family.
"It has been a stressful two days for me. I normally will ask my husband to let it slide but because my children and my husband are deeply affected by this, I think this is the best option," she said.
Diyana described how the incident had taken a heavy toll on her family, particularly her husband, who she said is usually the pillar of strength in their home.
"My husband is our strong figure in the house. To see him crumble and be comforted by my youngest is heartbreaking. To see my two children cry from afar made us feel so helpless," she added.
The controversy began after a video clip of Aaron’s interview, discussing public expectations of celebrities speaking out about the Gaza conflict, went viral and was misinterpreted by some social media users.
In response, Aaron clarified his statements in a follow-up video on Instagram, explaining that his remarks were cut short and taken out of context.
“I will post the full interview (unedited), so I hope everyone takes the time to listen carefully to what I actually said.
"The question I received was, ‘What is your opinion when people say artistes are not supporting the Gaza issue?’ I did that interview on Sept 19 and it had nothing to do with the flotilla issue. I didn’t mention anything about it," he said.
Aaron emphasised that support for humanitarian causes should not be measured solely by public statements or social media activity, as many people contribute silently behind the scenes.
"Just because someone doesn’t speak up publicly doesn’t mean they don’t support. Some people I know have donated quietly, sent food and aid, not everything has to be shown on social media.
"What’s the point of making noise online if there’s no real action behind it? Some only repost content but don’t pray or take any effort to help. If you truly care, contact verified non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and find ways to contribute," he said.
The 49-year-old actor also called out the hypocrisy of selective activism, where some individuals only speak out when an issue becomes viral or mainstream.
"There are so many issues in Malaysia alone, such as abuse, bullying and mental health, that people stay silent about. But when it comes to Gaza, suddenly everyone wants to speak because it’s popular.
"If you want to stand for humanity, do it for everyone, not just for what’s trending. Don’t be a hypocrite who only speaks when it benefits your image or gets you followers," he added.