Lebanese singer Alissa has denied circulating rumors that she is romantically involved with a prominent businessman, and that she was given an expensive diamond watch as a gift from him after she agreed to hold three private concerts in Switzerland next month.

Alissa said that she had bought the diamond watch for herself from a department store in Switzerland, and has become accustomed to hearing such rumors about romantic relationships with rich Arab businessman. The singer noted that she does not bother herself with commenting on such rumors in order not to give them more importance than they deserve.
 
 

Alissa recently gave two concerts in Casablanca, both in hotel ballrooms before a crowd of 1000, a dramatic shift from her performance last year that drew over 100,000 fans. Tickets prices started at US$50 US dollars, and it was reported that Alissa arrived an hour late to the concert.

The singer declined interviews with the Moroccan media, giving her performances little coverage and fueling negative rumors, although female fans remained loyal to the star attending in greater numbers.

On another note, head of the ‘Egyptian Musician Association,’ Hassan Abu Sou'od, has threatened to ban Alissa, along with Egyptian singers Dolly Shahin and Jad Shweiri from performing in Egypt.

The threat was made after the three singers held a private wedding concert and did not pay the required fees to the association, around 10 thousand Egyptian pounds per singer.

Abu Sou'od said the three will not be permitted to hold any performance in Egypt until they pay the fees. Alissa received US$35,000, Dolly US$25,000, and Jad US$30,000 for their performance.

From Al Bawaba