Last Sunday, fan favourite DJ Fila, one half of trance music duo Aly & Fila, was asked to end his DJ set early. It left everyone pissed and with good reason.

According to the Egyptian DJ, his contracted set time was from 1.30 am to 3.30 am. After arriving at 1 am for a quick interview, a Zouk’s DJ bookings manager told him that he could “finish [at] 4.15 am and then play an extra 15 minutes more”.

DJ Fila was then introduced to Zouk’s new owner and the VIP guest, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 25-year-old son, Norashman.

After the introduction, DJ Fila started his set at 1.40 am. It was at 3.30 am when the bookings manager asked the DJ if he would be open to play-back-to-back with Norashman.

DJ Fila’s Side

He refused.

In a lengthy Facebook post, DJ Fila wrote, “I continued playing then 15 minutes after, Byden [the bookings manager] came to me and he told me that I will have to stop as the new owner wants the ‘VIP guest’ to play.”

In an interview with The Straits Times, Zouk regular, Wong Wei Jean, shared that DJ Fila is known for playing past his contracted time.

The 27-year-old shared, “We got a table for Aly & Fila, we didn’t get a table to see this VIP play. Who are you to stop people from getting what they paid for?”

And here’s another thing, Norashman wasn’t in the performers’ bill that night.

One Facebook user has posted a video of DJ Fila sharing his side to the crowd. Here’s what went down (NSFW):

Here’s the transcript:

“Seems that Zouk here wants someone else to play. Not only because of that. Because apparently he’s the son of a prime minister. Thank you so much. Enjoy my last track. I’ll see you somewhere in the future. Not in Zouk anymore. Because I won’t play for Zouk any f***ing more. They insulted me, but I love you guys.”

The duo DJ Fali and Aly made it to #42 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs list last year.

Zouk’s Side

Zouk has since released a statement, citing that DJ Fila “was not at any point of time asked to end his set prematurely before the contracted set end time of 3.30am.”

Here’s the full statement:

Over To You

Different sides. Different stories. But let’s not beat around the bush. If you’ve heard what the patrons have said, it’s clear who’s in the wrong.

Ever since Zouk was acquired by Genting Hong Kong, there’s been a lot of tension in the air. Many Zouk regulars are flocking to Facebook to voice out their disappointment over the matter and the one-star reviews are piling up.

Suffice to say, the damage is already done.