Citroen withdraws Egyptian ad over “harassment of women”

Another critic, Ahmed Tawfiikk, wondered how the company might have thought the ad was a good idea.

“How was that even approved?” he wrote under a post on Instagram.

“That’s the real problem. It shows that there’s a whole TIM of individuals who at no point along the way thought it was appropriate? Or that there’s nothing wrong with it?”

On Thursday, Citroen announced that it had removed the ad.

“We were informed that the scene … was perceived as inappropriate,” Citroen wrote in a statement posted on their Instagram account.

“We have decided to withdraw this version of the ad … and we sincerely apologize to all offended communities with this film.”

Online, people have constantly criticized Diab, a megastar in the Arab world, for his role in the ad and his failed apology.

“People see him as an idol and are well aware of the dangerous situations that Egyptian women are constantly faced with,” Twitter user Mena wrote.

“It’s worrying that he didn’t see red flags in that scenario.”

Diab posted the ad on his social media accounts so millions of Arabs had access to it.