Turkish-American Designated Survivor actor is "disappointed" Netflix pulled his episode in Turkey

The Hollywood Reporter

Troy Caylak, who played the villainous fictional Turkish President Faith Fatih Turan in a 2018 ABC episode of Designated Survivor, expressed disappointment that Netflix gave into the Turkeyish censor's demand that his episode be yanked. "In light of the recent news publications regarding the Designated Survivor season 2 episode 7 takedown in Turkey, I felt that it was important to shed my perspective on the subject," Caylak wrote in an email sent to The Hollywood Reporter. "I’m a U.S.-born citizen and extremely grateful to be a working actor and screenwriter in Hollywood. Although I am very proud of my rich Turkish culture and heritage, my taking the role of a fictional Turkish president on an episode of a hit TV show was in no way motivated by the desire to make a political statement." Caylak added he was "naturally disappointed by the decision to have this, or any episode, censored from the series. When I took the role, I was cautioned by Turkish friends that it may have certain repercussions, (but) to me, it is a fictional role in a fictional series that relies on heightened drama to tell its stories and entertain its audience, and I approached this role, as I do every role, to responsibly and honestly portray this character in service to the storyline. Those who know me know that I do not bring my political views to the set, although I readily confess a love of all things Turkish, including the food – doner kebab is my favorite – ice cream, music and the soul of my people."