Presidential Advisor Criticizes Gülben Ergen’s Role in Family-Themed Project

A presidential advisor in Turkey has publicly criticized singer and actress Gülben Ergen, questioning her suitability to be involved in a project centered around family values. Oktay Saral, an advisor to the President, shared a post on social media February 4, 2026, referencing Ergen’s past statements and public persona in relation to the project.

Saral’s post quoted a message critical of Ergen, stating that individuals involved in projects focused on sensitive societal values like the family should be evaluated not only for their artistic merit but also for their past statements, attitudes, and the messages they convey to the public. He argued that Ergen’s history of public discussion and sometimes controversial approaches to the concept of family raise questions about her participation in a values-based initiative.

“In a project centered around a value as sensitive as ‘family,’ those involved are evaluated not only by their artistic identity but also by their past statements, attitudes, and the messages they convey to society,” Saral wrote, as translated from Turkish. He continued, “Considering Gülben Ergen’s years of public debate and the approaches she has sometimes presented regarding the concept of family, her involvement in such a value-based project naturally raises question marks and evokes reaction from the public.”

Saral emphasized that the family is a “red line” for the Turkish people and that those participating in projects representing this institution should demonstrate sensitivity and serve as positive role models. He asserted that popularity or success in the entertainment industry are insufficient criteria for representing family values, stating, “Popularity or success on screen can never be a sufficient measure in representing the institution of the family!” He concluded by saying that the Turkish people expect to see sincerity, dedication to values, and social responsibility in projects about family, not just acting skills.

Gülben Ergen, born August 25, 1972, began her career as an actress before transitioning to music. She gained prominence for her role as Melek in the 2001 comedy series Dadı, an adaptation of The Nanny, for which she won a Best Actress award at the Golden Butterfly Awards. Her 2004 album, Uçacaksın, achieved diamond certification, selling 600,000 copies. Throughout her career, Ergen has released numerous albums, with total sales reaching 2 million copies as of 2015.

The controversy comes as Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has increasingly focused on promoting conservative values. In 2025, he declared the year as the “Year of the Family,” advocating for traditional values and expressing a desire for Turkish women to have at least three children to address a declining birth rate and aging population. He has also spoken of raising a “religious youth” and warned against “cultural erosion,” criticizing depictions of family in popular media. A decree signed by Erdoğan at the end of last year laid the foundations for the government’s new campaign, with some activists fearing a shift towards basing family law on Sharia principles.

Women’s rights activists have criticized the “Year of the Family” campaign, accusing the government of attempting to establish “cultural hegemony” and standardize Turkish society according to its own norms. Selin Nakipoglu, a women’s rights activist and lawyer, has expressed concern that this could cement traditional gender roles and inequalities, potentially overlooking issues of male violence against women and children.

Separately, Ergen was recently involved in a public disagreement with fellow Turkish singer Demet Akalın regarding the acknowledgment of supporters for a charitable kindergarten project. Akalın criticized Ergen for not thanking the Ceylan family for their contribution to the opening of the Narin Kindergarten in Diyarbakır, which was built in memory of 8-year-old Narin Güran. The kindergarten was founded by Ergen’s charity, “Let the Children Smile.”

Another recent incident involved a disagreement with Didem Arslan Yılmaz, a journalist, over the source of information regarding a sensitive matter. Yılmaz challenged Ergen’s questioning of her journalistic sources during a live broadcast, criticizing Ergen’s attempt to inquire about her methods.

The current criticism from Saral adds another layer to the scrutiny surrounding Ergen’s public image and her involvement in projects that align with the government’s conservative agenda. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between traditional values and modern perspectives within Turkish society, and the increasing politicization of cultural figures and their work.