The Manoel Theatre has distanced itself from former V18 Artistic Director Mario Philip Azzopardi after comments he had made about PN MEP Roberta Metsola, which were blasted by people from both major political parties.

Azzopardi uploaded a photo of the MEP, with the following text: "It is so difficult not to hate this sick woman. How can she sleep at night knowing that the country hates her with a passion. They hate you, Roberta." Many people from the PN camp defended the Nationalist MEP, who also said that she will not be intimidated by Azzopardi's comments, and Culture Minister Jose Herrera as well as Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar came to Metsola's defence shooting down the comments.

Minister Herrera had told The Times of Malta that Azzopardi had a cooperative agreement with the Manoel Theatre.

The Manoel Theatre has had this to say about Azzopardi's comments: "With reference to the comments made by Mr Mario Philip Azzopardi currently being reported in the media and the spate of emails received. Teatru Manoel wishes to disassociate itself entirely from these statements and adds that their content is not commensurate with the dignity and status of Malta's national theatre."