Famous Turkish Talent Manager Now Behind Bars: The Ayşe Barım Case

Ayşe Barım, the founder of one of Türkiye’s most powerful talent management firms, now faces the risk of possibly being sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. Barım, who once managed celebrities like Hande Erçel, Birce Akalay and, Serenay Sarıkaya, was accused of participating in and planning the Gezi Park protests which sparked civil unrest in 2013.

Credits: Bianet

Barım was born and raised in Istanbul. She initially entered the media sector in 1992, after graduating from Boğaziçi University with a degree in English Language and Literature. She then spent two years in London, where she participated in a communications course. Her participation in the media sector included being a part of large organizations like the TV channel Kanal D and news outlet Hürriyet, where she worked in human relations and the promotion department. Her ultimate success began in 2002 when she opened ID Consultancy and began doing talent and media management, where she has helped build the careers of some of Türkiye’s most prominent actors and actresses. Until 2024, Barım worked in the background, setting the scene for the people she managed.

In September 2024, according to an article released by Fuat Uğur, Barım was accused of using her power to manipulate the entertainment industry. It was said that she purposefully forced projects to cast the actors that she managed for top roles, continuing her dominance over the sector. Additionally, the article mentioned that she was involved in creating a fake relationship between one of the female actresses she managed and an allegedly gay male singer in exchange for 5 million dollars. Although these allegations were denied by the agency and the actress, Barım was issued a travel ban on the 13th of January, 2025.

After her travel ban was imposed, Barım was arrested on the 24th of January 2025. Police accused her of being involved in plans to overthrow the government, with heavy connections to orchestrating and being involved in the 2013 Gezi Protests. The 2013 Gezi Protests initially began as a sit-in at the Gezi Park in Istanbul in order to oppose urban development plans approved by the government that would have destroyed the biodiversity in the area. The sit-in took a turn, however, when an eviction was inflicted, resulting in severe protests emphasizing media censorship, lack of freedom of the press, and other political issues. The impact of social media in the demonstration was undeniable, especially as the Turkish media attempted to understate what was actually occurring. The protests caused 22 deaths and left more than 8,000 people critically injured.

Credits: Balkan Insights

During her trial on the 7th of July, 2025, Barım was charged with planning social media campaigns that encouraged individuals to attend protests. With her celebrity connections also reposting these campaigns and hashtags, the protests garnered a lot of participation and attention. Social media became an outlet to find the truth during a period in which the Turkish media was deeply criticized and uncaring. The police also claimed that Barım had criminal contacts that included Memet Ali Alabora and Osman Kavala, who were also previously sent to jail for drafting the 2013 protests.

During her hearing, Barım rejected all of the allegations made against her. She argued that her social media campaigns were not direct prompts for individuals to join the protests and that everyone acted as they wished. Moreover, she mentioned that she was not familiar with Osman Kavala prior to 2013 and that the September 2024 article was written to target and slander her position.

Being charged with overthrowing the government is a serious charge in the Turkish judicial system and could result in a life sentence. Despite her rejection of the claims, Barım could be sentenced anywhere from 22 to 30 years in prison. However, the talent manager’s trial was pushed back to October 1st as there were requests to complete a comprehensive medical evaluation after Barım suffered accelerated problems in her heart and other neurological complications during her jail time. These requests were approved, yet she is still unable to get treatment on medical grounds, even though access to essential resources is deemed unavailable in prison.

The recent situation has shed light on other problems in Türkiye regarding media and press freedom. The trials demonstrate criticism and bans from judicial systems as the output from highly influential individuals clashes with opinions released by the government. It also shows the growing impact that celebrities and influential individuals have on society through social media platforms, during a time when official media platforms are remaining silent on prominent issues. Barım’s imprisonment symbolizes the suppression of cultural influence on society and the remaining holes in some of the judicial practices.

Edited by: Leyla Hacıoğlu