Evoking Marie Antoinette, Turkish actress says people should eat simit if necessary in face of poverty

Duvar English

Turkish actress and singer Hülya Avşar has received widespread criticism after she said that people should eat simit (Turkish bagel with sesame seeds) if necessary in the face of the economic crisis.

Answering a magazine reporter's question on the lira's crash and increasing poverty, Avşar said: “The economic crisis has certainly an impact on everyone and every fraction. They are asking, 'Are we going to eat simit after this time?' If necessary, it will be eaten, but we will get through these days easier.”

“I am of the opinion that people must handle this individually now,” Avşar further said.

Several social media users slammed Avşar over her comments, pointing out that the singer has been leading an ultra-wealthy life and her comments resembled those of infamous French ruler Marie-Antoinette von Österreich-Lothringen who told the people to eat cake if they can't find bread.

Kazdağları Istanbul Solidarity tweeted, “We would eat the rich [people] if necessary,” while another user recalled that the singer had bought an island off Ayvalık worth 55 million liras for her daughter last year.

Journalist Yeliz Koray wrote that Hülya was belittling people's financial struggles and had “topped Marie-Antoinette from her throne.” “Because simit is more expensive than bread,” wrote Koray.

As the value of the lira plummets and inflation soars, Turkish citizens are struggling to adapt and survive.

Citizens without foreign currency or gold to sell are finding other ways to decrease their expenses, avoiding buying meat or turning to government-subsidized bread stands.

The lira lost half its value against the dollar this year, falling almost 30% in November alone.