Family of the late Haya bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa warns against exploitation of her name through suspicious activities
Khaled Al-Rashid, the former legal representative of the late artist Haifa Wehbe and the current legal representative of her daughter Susan, issued an official statement denying rumors circulating about a will allegedly attributed to the late Haifa Wehbe. The rumors claimed that the will designated a portion of her estate to establish a charity or fund, urging people to donate in her name through associations, cryptocurrencies, digital links, or so-called “Bitcoin,” among other means. These rumors had been picked up by Kuwaiti, Gulf, and Arab news and entertainment websites.
The official statement clarified that the rumors caused distress and annoyance among the late artist’s daughters, who received calls and inquiries asking where to donate or how to contribute to the alleged fund. Additionally, some individuals are exploiting televised interviews the late artist gave during her lifetime, in which she spoke about values of compassion, kindness, and assistance. These clips are being selectively edited and presented as if they constitute a recent will announced after her death. This is entirely false and constitutes an exploitation of old materials available on news and social media platforms, leading viewers or readers to mistakenly believe they are authentic, official statements released for the first time after her death.
The statement firmly emphasized to all that the late artist left no will regarding this matter or any other. It noted that the heirs have been identified and the estate distributed in accordance with Islamic Sharia law and Kuwaiti legislation. The statement also urged everyone to respect the feelings of her daughters and grandchildren and to refrain from spreading false news that causes them harm and distress. In the same vein, the statement warned news websites and social media users against exploiting the late artist’s name, genuine images, or any images manipulated using artificial intelligence software for the purpose of collecting money or donations in any form. It also prohibited using her name or image to organize any festivals or cultural or artistic events in Kuwait or abroad, and to produce or display any visual or audio content related to her biography or any aspect of her life or work after her death, without prior written permission from the legal representative of her daughter Susan only.
Furthermore, the statement called for refraining from selectively editing any media materials from her previous interviews or artistic works and presenting them as if they constitute a recent will claimed to be published for the first time after her death. It also urged against promoting or disseminating any news, regardless of its nature, concerning her estate, wills, or private life. The statement concluded by appealing to all news websites, newspapers, various media outlets, and individuals not to participate in publishing or promoting any of these misleading news items or materials without verifying the source with the official representative of the late artist. It reserved the full right to legally pursue anyone who does so before competent authorities, whether in Kuwait or abroad, to protect the rights of her daughter and grandchildren and to safeguard donors and fans of the late Haifa Wehbe, may God have mercy on her, from fraud and deception.
