'Verna' star Haroon Shahid's latest comments about #MeToo land him in hot water

You might remember Haroon Shahid, the singer-turned-actor who played the lead opposite Mahira Khan in last year's crime thriller Verna?

The film revolved around a rape victim fighting for justice. Ironically, the 28-year-old recently landed himself in hot water after making some rather questionable comments on the #MeToo movement.

Taking to Twitter, Shahid quoted a tweet about journalist Gul Bukhari being slapped. "A couple from my side as well please. Mein maroon ga to #MeToo hojai ga! (If I do it, it'll become a #MeToo issue)".

A couple from my side as well please. Mein maroon ga to #MeToo hojai ga! https://t.co/CvUKa7rkpG

— Haroon Shahid (@Haroon_5hahid) August 3, 2018

And Twitter is livid.

Pretty strange comment from you, Haroon. Considering you starred in a film that literally speaks about women standing up against abuse. https://t.co/6zDmFfG5Jq

— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) August 3, 2018

The amount of anger a woman can show is so restrictive. A man can joke about slapping a woman with a chappal and say that it was a light hearted statement, but I say "#metoo shouldn't be trivialized" and I'm a fire-breathing, man-hating feminazi who needs to relax? Damn son

— Manal Faheem Khan 🇵🇸 (@ManalFaheemKhan) August 3, 2018

@HaroonsMusic doesn't matter if you dont like her opinion. But supporting such act is too low !
Many people must be following you, even I admire your songs that's why I follow you on twitter, but our views must be positive, we must not endorse such mind sets. #SpreadLoveNRespect

— Ali Arif (@ialiarif) August 3, 2018

Even after the backlash, Shahid continued to defend his 'joke' and wrote an 'apology'. Quoting Bukhari's tweet regarding PTI Chairman Imran Khan's looks, he asked Twitterati to get an apology from the journalist as well:

"I apologise for my bad joke. Hope you guys garner an apology from her for this. Oh wait. Was this even a joke?" he wrote.

I apologize for my bad joke. Hope you guys garner an apology from her for this. Oh wait.... was this even a joke??? 🤔 https://t.co/RUSsS1rl0t

— Haroon Shahid (@Haroon_5hahid) August 3, 2018

However, many pointed out that Shahid's attempt at apologising was abysmal.

Pakistan has a deep rooted history of violence against women and you made a insensitive joke that perpetuates that culture. But carry on with your half-assed apology.

— 🔅 (@pkpopculture) August 3, 2018

you're allowed to criticise people without resorting to ridiculing real issues and real movements that have real life consequences. don't try to bring in your friends to vouch for your character when u can't even exhibit the decency enough to not "joke" about assault/harassment

— zainab mubashir🌙 (@zainabmsheikh) August 3, 2018

cute how you think joking about domestic abuse and making fun of a politician allegedly getting botox are the same thing.

— juwayriyya (@sulkmonstre) August 3, 2018

And he still didn't stop.

"I cracked a bad joke yesterday for which I got bashed and rightly so. Apparently, for a few I've become a hate monger, a rapist and a person who supports abusing women with that one tweet. Your hate and the article in Dawn doesn't make me one. I apologise for the joke. Stop fighting!" he wrote.

I cracked a bad joke yesterday for which I got bashed and rightly so. Apparently, for a few I've become a hate monger, a rapist and a person who supports abusing women with that one tweet. Your hate and article on Dawn don't make me one. I apologise for the joke. Stop fighting!!

— Haroon Shahid (@Haroon_5hahid) August 4, 2018

It's 2018. To come across 'jokes' regarding sexual harassment is not only problematic but bizarre as well.

Can someone please make Shahid understand the narrative better?

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