'Magnificent Century' cast leads stars at Taksim protests

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Halit Ergenç lead the entire cast of the globally known TV show, with other actors including Mehmet Günsur, Ozan Güven, Serkan Altunorak, and Deniz Çakır leaving the set to join the protesters yesterday. DHA photo

Familiar faces of Turkish television, including the cast and crew of the hit show The Magnificent Century (Muhteşem Yüzyıl), were spotted in Taksim Square in support of protesters, with Halit Ergenç calling on officials to end the violence.

Ergenç, who plays Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, lead the entire cast of the globally known TV show, with other actors including Mehmet Günsur, Ozan Güven, Serkan Altunorak, and Deniz Çakır leaving the set to join the protesters yesterday.

“The only way to solve this issue is to quit the attitude of ‘I did so, so it is done,’ and instead listen to what these people want, and to form a democratic platform through which these wishes can be heard. Please end this violence, and start to listen, and to understand,” Ergenç said, in a statement released on his Facebook page.

Turkish singer Tarkan also postponed several tour dates in accordance with the ongoing protests and voiced support for the demonstrators.

A joint press statement was read by a group of artists late on June 2, in front of the iconic Atatürk Culture Center at the square, which heavily targeted the Turkish media for lack of objectivity in covering the events.

Zeki Demirkubuz, Selma Ergenç, Demet Evgar, Devrim Evin, Nedim Saban, Tardu Flordun, Özgü Namal, Azra Akın and Can Bonomo were also among the celebrities seen in Taksim throughout the protests.