https://www.asiaone.com/entertainme...rral&utm_campaign=A1+trending&utm_content=c11
entertainment
Singer-actress Bella Astillah (right) hands an award over to actress Sophia Albarakbah at the 2025 Melodi Hottest Awards on Aug 3.
PHOTO: Screengrab/YouTube/TV3Malaysia Official
PUBLISHED ON August 05, 2025 2:03 PM BY Syarifah Nadhirah
Malaysian broadcaster TV3 and entertainment programme Melodi are under fire after the audience witnessed a messy turn of events during their award show Anugerah Melodi Terhangat 2025 (2025 Melodi Hottest Awards) on Aug 3.
Singer-actress Bella Astillah, 31, was on stage to present the award for Hottest Female Celebrity alongside her boyfriend, 32-year-old politician Syed Saddiq.
When the former unfolded the result slip, there was a long pause as she laughed awkwardly.
"This one... I know this one very well," she remarked.
The winner? Actress Sophia Albarakbah, whom Bella had publicly called out in 2023 for allegedly flirting with her husband at the time, Singaporean actor Aliff Aziz.
Bella handed Sophia the award without a glance and swiftly turned to walk away, and angry netizens flooded the comments section of Melodi's Instagram posts.
"I'm boycotting TV3 and Melodi. Definitely won't see the show again after this," said one netizen.
"You must've thought it was funny right? You were bored and there was nothing else to make a controversy out of. Don't be so childish... Did you have to go this far?" another questioned.
Netizens also went on X to express their distaste towards what happened under the award show's hashtag.
One remarked: "Just looking for cheap publicity. Shame on you."
Others expressed their sympathy for Bella, whom they felt had looked anxious and uncomfortable.
Bella also reportedly did not attend a scheduled interview with the media after the event.
She added she didn't feel like she was being mocked by Bella, reported NST. "Maybe it was just her way of saying it, because she does know me. It was her delivery, that's all."
Meanwhile, Bella's assistant Niel Rafeq spoke out in support of her.
Bella's assistant Niel Rafeq came to her defence. PHOTO: Screengrab/Instagram/Niel Rafeq
"Only her closest friends know what she did to Bella back then. That was not Bella's [usual] way of handing an award but perhaps it happened that way because the person gave her trauma. She was shaking because she's traumatised," he said in an Instagram Story.
Aliff, now 34, and Bella got married in 2016 and split in 2019 but reconciled the following year. They have two children.
In 2023, Sophia and Aliff were co-stars in the drama Ku Akad Kau Dengan Bismillah.
Back then, Bella alleged that Sophia flirted with Aliff and would call him up to eight times a day.
She also revealed text messages between herself and Sophia and claimed that the latter apologised for "accidentally falling for" Aliff.
Aliff would later have a publicised scandal with his Terjerat co-star Ruhainies in 2024, leading to his second divorce from Bella in June the same year.
entertainment
'Did you have to go this far?' Malaysia's TV3 slammed after Bella Astillah made to present award to actress in ex-husband's scandal
Singer-actress Bella Astillah (right) hands an award over to actress Sophia Albarakbah at the 2025 Melodi Hottest Awards on Aug 3.
PHOTO: Screengrab/YouTube/TV3Malaysia Official
PUBLISHED ON August 05, 2025 2:03 PM BY Syarifah Nadhirah
Malaysian broadcaster TV3 and entertainment programme Melodi are under fire after the audience witnessed a messy turn of events during their award show Anugerah Melodi Terhangat 2025 (2025 Melodi Hottest Awards) on Aug 3.
Singer-actress Bella Astillah, 31, was on stage to present the award for Hottest Female Celebrity alongside her boyfriend, 32-year-old politician Syed Saddiq.
When the former unfolded the result slip, there was a long pause as she laughed awkwardly.
"This one... I know this one very well," she remarked.
The winner? Actress Sophia Albarakbah, whom Bella had publicly called out in 2023 for allegedly flirting with her husband at the time, Singaporean actor Aliff Aziz.
Bella handed Sophia the award without a glance and swiftly turned to walk away, and angry netizens flooded the comments section of Melodi's Instagram posts.
"I'm boycotting TV3 and Melodi. Definitely won't see the show again after this," said one netizen.
"You must've thought it was funny right? You were bored and there was nothing else to make a controversy out of. Don't be so childish... Did you have to go this far?" another questioned.
Netizens also went on X to express their distaste towards what happened under the award show's hashtag.
One remarked: "Just looking for cheap publicity. Shame on you."
Others expressed their sympathy for Bella, whom they felt had looked anxious and uncomfortable.
Bella also reportedly did not attend a scheduled interview with the media after the event.
Sophia and Bella's assistant speak out
Regarding netizens who believed they saw tension between the two women on stage, Sophia, 32, reportedly said she didn't take the comments to heart.She added she didn't feel like she was being mocked by Bella, reported NST. "Maybe it was just her way of saying it, because she does know me. It was her delivery, that's all."
Meanwhile, Bella's assistant Niel Rafeq spoke out in support of her.
"Only her closest friends know what she did to Bella back then. That was not Bella's [usual] way of handing an award but perhaps it happened that way because the person gave her trauma. She was shaking because she's traumatised," he said in an Instagram Story.
Aliff, now 34, and Bella got married in 2016 and split in 2019 but reconciled the following year. They have two children.
In 2023, Sophia and Aliff were co-stars in the drama Ku Akad Kau Dengan Bismillah.
Back then, Bella alleged that Sophia flirted with Aliff and would call him up to eight times a day.
She also revealed text messages between herself and Sophia and claimed that the latter apologised for "accidentally falling for" Aliff.
Aliff would later have a publicised scandal with his Terjerat co-star Ruhainies in 2024, leading to his second divorce from Bella in June the same year.
