Melhem Zein denies rumours of US ban

Lebanese actor Melhem Zain has told Arabstoday that he has been blackballed from entering the US, despite persistent rumours. Rumours of a US ban began to circulate after he was refused a visa to attend a party in America he was set to host. The incident apparently meant big loss for the company who sponsored the party. Zein said that many people suffer from visa problems, adding that most actors in the industry have experienced the same problem at some point in their careers. He said he was “genuinely shocked” that such speculation was mounting over such a small incident and blamed his political views for hindering his travel to the US. He also added that he is waiting for a “suitable time” before releasing his new album.