KUALA LUMPUR: The organiser of the A Night With Sumandak Stars: Ceritera Hatiku concert, Orange International Entertainment, has taken responsibility for the poster issue that led to singer Stacy Anam's withdrawal from the event.
Its director, Datuk Mohd Fazli Idrus, acknowledged the company's oversight.
He explained that the problem stemmed from an internal error and wasn't intended to cause offense or compare the featured artistes.
"It was our mistake. We didn't mean to undermine any of the performers, all of whom have remarkable talents and achievements.
"We've organised many concerts before, and similar poster designs never caused issues.
"This incident has taught us to be more cautious moving forward," he told Harian Metro.
Mohd Fazli further explained that the error occurred due to time constraints.
Stacy only confirmed her participation two days before the press conference announcing the event.
"The original poster concept had Stacy as the main star, but at the last minute, our creative team moved her image to the background after receiving her approval.
"The team wasn't fully aware of the individual achievements of the artistes, and since the press conference was the next day, we had to rush the poster for promotion.
"However, we could have made changes upon request."
He also emphasised that Bella Astillah, another artiste involved, should not be blamed for the incident, as she did not influence the poster's design.
"Bella was busy with her own commitments and simply went along with the decisions we made.
"There was no favouritism. We hope this situation doesn't strain the relationships between the artistes. The industry is small, and we cross paths often," he added.
Last Friday, Stacy's management company, Rhythm & Rhyme, announced her withdrawal from the concert, citing technical issues.
The original poster, which placed Bella in a more prominent position, sparked controversy, leading to the changes.
A new version of the poster has since been released, featuring all the artists equally, but without Stacy after she decided to withdraw.