Stelios Rokkos addresses controversy over Giorgos Mazonakis funeral attendance

On September 22, 2026, Greek singer Stelios Rokkos addressed public scrutiny regarding his decision not to attend the funeral of his late colleague, Giorgos Mazonakis. Speaking during an interview with Stamatina Tsimtsili in Lemnos for the show Happy Day, Rokkos explicitly stated that he did not attend the ceremony and would not have gone even if it had been held on his home island.

The singer explained his absence by citing a deep-seated personal aversion to funeral services, stemming from past traumatic experiences with losses. Rokkos criticized the societal pressure to participate in such public events, questioning the sincerity of those who attended while filming with their mobile phones. He also took the opportunity to defend Antonis Remos, who faced criticism for proceeding with a concert in Thessaloniki shortly after the death of Mazonakis, implying that public judgment in these matters is often misplaced.

This incident has fueled media speculation regarding the interpersonal relationships within the Greek music scene. While some reports suggested an intentional personal rift, Rokkos maintained that his decision was purely a personal inability to cope with funeral settings.