Many took offense to his statement, including Samar Yazbek, an Alawite writer who supports the revolution, and labeled him as sectarian.
كُثر شعروا بالإهانة نتيجة كلامه، بمن فيهم سمير يزبك، كاتب علوي مؤيد للثورة، ونعته بالطائفي.