Turkish entertainment group DBL takes legal action over defamation campaign

The owner of DBL Entertainment, a leading Turkish entertainment group, is pursuing legal action against individuals and organizations responsible for a “sustained campaign of disinformation and defamation” that the company says has harmed its business operations and reputation.

Ted Anastasiou, legal counsel for Abdulkadir Ozkan, owner of DBL Entertainment, said the attacks, which have continued despite efforts to clarify the facts, were aimed at undermining the company’s work.

The statement referenced remarks made by Ozkan on March 31, where he emphasized that his comments were directed at a small group of violent provocateurs, not peaceful protesters, and noted that peaceful protest is a constitutional right.

“That Mr. Ozkan’s reasonable stance could be so wildly twisted says a great deal about the times we’re living in,” Anastasiou said. “Lies are rebranded as ‘alternative facts’ and amplified at warp speed on social media.”

‘Defying both common sense and law’

Ozkan’s legal team described the attacks as “defying both common sense and the law,” emphasizing the financial damage caused, including concert cancellations and reputational harm to DBL Entertainment, as well as vendors and professionals dependent on the company’s operations.

“Mr. Ozkan has filed formal legal actions against those responsible for defamation, incitement, unfair competition, and economic interference,” Anastasiou’s statement read. “We are actively pursuing all legal remedies available under Turkish and international law.”

The statement added that further legal proceedings are expected against those involved in “unlawful conduct,” including contractual breaches and malicious misrepresentations.

After careful consideration and hearing the feedback from our fans whilst fully respecting their concerns, our show in Istanbul will be now postponed until 2026 so we can ensure DBL Entertainment will not be involved.

Thank you for your ongoing support, it means everything to…

— muse (@muse) April 2, 2025

Muse and Trevor Noah cancel shows in Istanbul

DBL Entertainment is known for bringing some of the world’s most iconic artists to Türkiye.

One of these is world-famous rock band Muse, which announced on April 2 that it had postponed its Istanbul concert—originally scheduled for June 11, 2025—to 2026. This decision follows calls for a boycott of DBL Entertainment on social media after the arrest of former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu over corruption charges.

Muse is not the only international act affected by the controversy. Earlier, world-renowned comedian Trevor Noah canceled his April 23 show in Istanbul due to similar boycott calls targeting DBL Entertainment.

Imamoglu was detained on March 19 on charges of corruption and terrorism. He was later arrested on March 23 as part of an investigation into corruption within the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

The controversy surrounding DBL Entertainment and Ozkan intensified after the owner made comments regarding political protests and boycott campaigns related to Imamoglu’s arrest.