For Khaled, the controversy underlined what he has seen as a need for a new approach by Muslims, one of reform and dialogue with the rest of the world.
"For the past three years, with youth across the Islamic world, we've been working for a faith-based renaissance in this region, which will not take place by clashes but by coexistence," he said in an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo.
He said he had expected the criticism over his new campaign. "An initiative by definition is something new, and I represent a school that has opposing schools of thought," he said.
Khaled is not the only Muslim religious leader promoting dialogue. But he has become one of the most outspoken. And he brings the huge fan base of a pop star: young people, women and the middle and upper-middle class.