Comedian Cem Yılmaz responded to recent criticisms from actress Nurgül Yeşilçay regarding ageism and gender dynamics in the Turkish entertainment industry. Following Yeşilçay’s remarks about older male actors partnering with younger women, Yılmaz addressed the comments after being questioned by members of the press.
Nurgül Yeşilçay’s criticisms of ageism
During an appearance on Hakan Gence’s YouTube program, Nurgül Yeşilçay criticized the casting trends in the acting industry, specifically noting that male actors of middle age continue to play romantic leads with significantly younger women. Yeşilçay argued that these casting choices are driven by producers rather than audience expectations. While she did not mention specific names, her comments were linked to Yılmaz due to his previous jokes regarding age and the fact that he had been seen using a cane following a heart attack.
Yeşilçay remarked on how some men attempt to appear younger, stating,
“They dye their hair with shoe polish and think they look 35. They even make jokes. They are so funny. Saying ‘one foot is in the grave’ and then walking with a cane and all.”
Cem Yılmaz responds to the remarks
When asked by reporters about Yeşilçay’s comments, the 53-year-old comedian maintained a positive stance toward his colleague. Regarding the specific mention of a cane, Yılmaz noted, “My cane has been talked about since the 90s.”
Addressing the actress directly, Yılmaz said,
“I love Nurgül very much, I never think anything bad about her. I like witty people.”
The tension follows a previous show where Yılmaz made a joke about dating a 38-year-old, saying, “They say ‘he found a young one.’ She is 38, she is about to die.” When also asked by the press if he is currently in a relationship, Yılmaz replied, “I don’t have a relationship, my doctor forbade it.”
