Sahar Ghoreishi

Photo Controversy

In 2019, images circulated on social media suggesting a close relationship between Sahar Ghoreishi and Mehdi Taremi. Amid growing speculation and reactions, both parties expressed regret over the release of the images and described their relationship as friendly.^[10][11]

Views on Women Attending Sports Stadiums

In December 2017, Ghoreishi stated in an interview that she opposed women attending sports stadiums, saying she felt “disturbed” by the presence of men around her. Previously, she had attended a Persepolis vs. Al-Hilal match at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with photos of her at the event shared online.^[12] Her remarks sparked widespread criticism, particularly on social media.^[13] Public figures such as Mahnaz Afshar, Masih Alinejad, and Salome Seyednia responded to her comments.^[14][15] In a subsequent interview, Ghoreishi clarified that her stance on women attending stadiums was a personal opinion shared with her fans, citing “lack of safety for women in stadiums” as her reason.^[16]

Instagram Account Hack

In late October 2016, Ghoreishi’s Instagram account, with 4.4 million followers, was hacked. For several hours, an image of the Saudi Arabian king and the country’s flag was posted on her page.^[17]

Mistreatment of a Street Cleaner

On April 22, 2020, a video surfaced showing Ghoreishi laughing near a municipal street cleaner, telling her friends, "I matched my outfit with him." After the worker reacted by saying, "Go, lady," Ghoreishi remarked to her friends, "All I needed was for him to tell me to go."

The footage quickly went viral, triggering widespread public backlash. Majid Farahani, a member of the Tehran City Council, publicly demanded an apology, stating that if none was offered, he would pursue a formal legal complaint against Ghoreishi through the municipality's legal department.^[18]

Actor Sam Derakhshani criticized Ghoreishi’s actions on Instagram, labeling her among “pseudo-artists” who rose in Iran’s cinema through connections. He wrote, “The story starts with pseudo-artists who, through their deals, rise to fame and develop a delusion of being true artists… Half the insults the artistic community receives are due to the ignorance of people like you.”^[19]

In response to the criticism, Ghoreishi posted on Instagram, “I proudly say I was born into a family from this very class, and I will never forget my past.”^[20] She added:

“For a while now, I’ve been sensitive to the word ‘go’! It’s that simple, because for a long time, my friends and those around me have been advising me to leave Iran. When that honorable street cleaner told me ‘go,’ it felt like a message from nature itself telling me to leave. That dear street cleaner didn’t recognize me at all, and I swear I never intended to insult him. This was nothing but a small misunderstanding. In the end, what could be more wonderful than me wearing the honorable uniform of a street cleaner one day and experiencing the thrilling feeling of standing beside this hardworking and dignified group? Wearing a street cleaner’s uniform isn’t a punishment or a court ruling; to me, it’s a great honor and a symbol of nobility and integrity.”

Relationship with Amir Tataloo

In 2021, images shared on social media suggesting Ghoreishi’s migration to Turkey and an emotional relationship with Amir Tataloo fueled further controversies. Both Ghoreishi and Tataloo confirmed their relationship in various ways.^{[21][22][23][24]} Analysts have linked this relationship to the promotion of overseas betting networks, suggesting that the controversy was orchestrated to increase traffic and profits for gambling websites.^[25]