United Media Services/UMS has announced it will not renew its contract with prominent TV anchor Lamees El Hadidi, ending a five-year run on the group’s ON TV channel. The decision, made “by mutual agreement,” was issued in a brief company statement on Wednesday, wishing El Hadidi continued success.
El Hadidi responded on Facebook, thanking her team and viewers but not UMS. “I end my years with United proud of the work I have delivered,” she wrote, “thank you to the great production team… and to my great audience.”
She also hinted at embarking on a “new experience,” without revealing further details. However, a member of her program’s production team told Al Manassa they have not yet been informed of any alternative offers or clear plans.
While neither party gave a reason for the split, two sources on the program team told Al Manassa they believe the decision followed her sharp criticism of unnamed officials after a deadly crash in late June that killed 18 girls and a driver on the Regional Ring Road near Kafr El-Sanabsa, Menoufiya.
In a June 28 broadcast, El Hadidi called for public accountability, saying, “Do eighteen girls really have to die before we know who’s responsible? Does there have to be a major tragedy? Who do we hold to account? Who’s responsible? We can’t just let this slide. People need to see justice done. They need to feel like we live in a country where the law actually means something.”
She insisted blame must extend beyond the minibus driver, adding, “Even if he was using drugs, what about the other accidents that happen daily?”
“This isn’t a simple mistake,” she asserted. “When the same mistake keeps happening, it’s a disaster. Someone has to be publicly accountable, not dealt with in secret. Let the public feel justice, let them feel we live in a country that upholds the law.”
Regarding possible explanations for the show’s situation, a member of her program’s production team denied financial motives to Al Manassa. “I don’t think this was about money,” they said. ”Lamees brought sponsors and ad revenue. The commercial breaks were 10 to 15 minutes long—this wasn’t a financial problem.”
The other team member acknwoledged tensions around contract renewal two weeks ago but said they had expected a resolution. “We thought they’d sit down, set red lines, and move forward. But that didn’t happen.”
A third source, working at a UMS-affiliated media outlet and close to El Hadidi’s team, echoed the theory that her remarks after the crash played a role. “People were joking internally that Lamees became the latest victim of the regional highway,” they said.
UMS, established in May 2016, describes itself as “one of the largest media entities in the entire Arab region,” owning more than 40 companies in media fields such as visual, audio, print, and electronic media, as well as advertising, direct and indirect advertising services, and sports rights and marketing.
After a two-year absence from Egyptian screens, UMS signed El Hadidi in Sep. 2020 to present the show “Last Word with Lamees El Hadidi.” The show debuted in October that year.
