Rabat – Renowned Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred has announced that he will soon get married with his best friend Ghita El Allaki.
The singer announced the news on his Instagram in a caption, stressing he wished to see his marriage succeed.
The singer had not previously revealed that he was in a relationship with Ghita, who social media posts and news reports suggest is a businesswoman from Marrakech currently residing in Canada.
Sayidaty magazine has reported “sources close to Lamjarred’s family” as confirming that the singer announced his marriage suddenly without notifying his family.
Some sources said the wedding party will take place on the day of the singer’s birthday, which is on September 20.
Sayidaty added that Al Allaki is from Marrakech and owns hotels in the Gueliz district in the Moroccan Red City.
Bashir Abdo, Saad Lamjarred’s father, described Ghita as a “loyal friend of the family,” the magazine said.
Meanwhile, other reports have emphasized that the businesswoman was among Lamjarred’s best friends who helped him through an emotionally gruelling phase recently as he faced series of sexual harrasment allegations.
The singer’s sexual harassment allegations made the rounds on social media and grabbed headlines in Morocco and beyond after a number of French women accused him of sexual misconduct, including rape.
The first case dates back to 2016, when a French woman named Laura Prioul accused Lamjarred of rape and “ruining my life.”
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He was arrested on October 26, 2016, on charges of sexually assaulting the woman. Pending his trial, and after spending nearly six months in detention at the Marriott Champs Elysees hotel in Paris, the singer was temporarily released on bail under electronic surveillance on April 13, 2017.
In September 2018, the famous Moroccan singer was again arrested on similar charges, but was later released in December of the same year.
Amid the wave of allegations, Lamjarred divided opinion in Morocco and the MENA region.
Some fans and observers expressed sympathy and support, believing he was innocent or arguing that he should enjoy his right to be considered innocent until proven guilty by a court. Others disparaged the world-renowned singer, saying that the proliferation of allegations pointed to a pattern of sexual misconduct on his part.
The second camp also expressed frustration and disappointment at the popular support the singer was receiving on social media and in some media coverage of the allegations he was facing, arguing that such inappropriate expression of support for an alleged sexual offender pointed to the banalization of rape and the normalization of toxic masculinity.
Lamjarred is known for making several hits that have garnered millions of views on YouTube and streaming platforms, including L’maalam ( the boss) and Ghazali (my beauty).
