Like a boss: Celebrity hot takes of the year

Here's presenting the much-needed celebrity public exchanges of 2021 that made it so much better!

Having spent two years in a pandemic, people have become more accustomed to meeting their loved ones online and celebrities are no different. Increasing their engagement with fans and trolls, most don’t hesitate now from responding to controversies first hand. And if need be, many don’t refrain from hitting back at personal jibes either. But that comes with its fair share of pros and cons.

So, while 2020 saw a trove of these artists sharing their unfiltered opinions and lives with the public – breaking the illusion of stardom that comes with their otherwise, glammed up public personas – 2021 saw them learning the art of knowing exactly when to speak up, and engaging in some hot takes. Compiled below are seven of the best celebrity-public exchanges of the year.

Removing filters

Many stars in the recent past have urged their followers to accept all skin types, without the need to associate beauty with fairness. Actor Hania Aamir is one of them. She kicked off the year condemning colourism in society but to her dismay, fans, critics and bloggers started calling her out for using faux filters while speaking of detaching oneself from regressive beauty standards.

Amidst the outrage, the 24-year-old dubbed these critics “opportunists” undermining a cause Hania intended to raise awareness about. This time, removing all filters from her speech, she added, “If I want to use a beauty filter because I want to do it, it’s completely fine. But if I use a filter because I feel pressurised by society to look a certain way, then it’s off the beam. For those wanting to write on skin positivity, I’ve been coming bare face on social media displaying my textured skin, pimples for the past two years so that’s what you should be writing about, not utilising the opportunity to target someone and become a carpetbagger.”

Naming and shaming harassers

In June, host Anoushey Ashraf took to Instagram and shared an incident (that she adds happens far too often) which involved a user harassing her online by sending her indecent direct messages. On her stories, she shared a screenshot of these alongside the user's profile details, naming and shaming him.

To explain why she decided to expose this man instead of letting it slide like all the other ones, Anoushey said, “Today I shared the story of a man who sent me an indecent message. I think a lot of people need to learn that they can't get away with this [harassing someone]. Had I not said anything, he would have done the same with vulnerable women, younger girls, who wouldn’t know how to react."

Not a ‘Pakistani girl’

In September, actor Faryal Mehmood was trolled for her choice of dressing after she shared a photo that saw her standing in front of the Florence Cathedral in Italy donning a tea pink short dress. A netizen commented on the post saying, “Pakistan or Islam se belong karti hai, Isi baat ka khayal dil me le aati to asi dressing hergiz na kerti. You are islamic and Pakistani girl.”

But sadly, for them, Mehmood didn’t turn out to be a ‘Pakistani girl’. Clapping back at the bold assumption, the Laal Ishq actor said: “Actually, I was born in the States – the United States of America – so technically I’m not a ‘Pakistani girl’ lol.” That was a rather quick burn.

Mahira’s missing dupatta

The Israeli oppression of Palestine also led a number of celebrities to hit the streets globally in a series of protests for the Palestinian cause. As part of the Pakistan for Palestine marches, many of which were held in May, our local celebs, including Mahira Khan, Shehryar Munawar, Hania and Ali Rehmaan among others, also hit the streets, some, unfortunately without a dupatta.

Thus, came out the moral brigade, that ensured Pakistani Twitter spent its time arguing over Mahira’s missing dupatta, instead of condemning the apartheid and forced displacement. That’s right, we were confused too. The absurdity led fellow actors Yasir Hussain and Ahmed Ali Butt to come to the Raees star’s defense, albeit, some people are a lost cause.

Taking to his Instagram story, Yasir shared, "Wah! So, you can create a 'summer look' out of shorts and Mahira can't even leave a dupatta at home in this scorching heat in May? Discuss some real issues instead of who wore what. Have some shame and fear God.”

Mirroring Yasir's sentiments, Ahmed too, shared his take. "People who couldn't find the dupatta, how do we expect them to find wisdom?" the Punjab Nahi Jaungi star shared. "Try finding shame in yourself instead of a dress." Zhalay shared Ahmed's story and penned, "That's why no real issues are solved. People focus on these ridiculous issues."

In hot waters, literally

Last month, Ayesha Omar shared photos from her sultry shoot with Shoaib Malik, following Pakistan's win against Scotland in the ICC tournament. Looking sizzling in an orange number next to the cricketer, who, like Shehzad Roy, doesn’t seem to age at all, Ayesha captioned the first photo, “Never have I ever,” and wrote “Beat it,” under the second.

It spurred numerous reactions as fans of both public figures began jumping to conclusions. Many asked how Shoaib could agree to such a ‘vulgar’ gig with Sania Mirza in the equation. A netizen even inquired, “Are you two planning on getting married?” To which Omar could not stay mum any longer. “Not at all. He is married and happy with his wife, I respect both Shoaib and Sania a lot,” she assured them.

Ayesha also clarified that she and Shoaib are nothing but each other’s well-wishers. “Shoaib and I are good friends and people have such relations in this world too.” Sorry to break to y’all but news flash!

On problematic depictions

Qissa Meherbano Ka, starring Mawra Hocane and Ahsan Khan, recently came under fire for its depiction of marital rape without a trigger warning. In the following chapter, Mawra’s character Meherbano ‘sarcastically’ justifies what Khan’s character does by calling it his ‘right’, provided he is her husband.

When questioned about the same by a user on Instagram, Mawra explained, “That dialogue was a sarcastic representation of our society because that is what is believed. A traumatised woman laughed at herself in that dialogue. It takes a lifetime for women to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is our humble attempt to give a resolution while being practical and not take the dramatic licence and turn the woman into a hero overnight."

But several continued to remain on the fence about whether they should appreciate the show for raising an issue usually tucked away or censored, or call it out for failing to provide a trigger warning and showing, yet another, damsel in distress who tolerates abuse. Mawra, however, clarified to a user who lauded her performance while calling out her character’s silence: “Change doesn’t come overnight. Women don’t turn into knights overnight. We have to show a practical resolution. Most women live with this reality their entire lives. We shall attempt to give a solution for that.”

Sick and tired

More recently, actor Sanam Jung expressed her exhaustion over a user’s query regarding her relationship with her husband, Syed Abdul Qassam Jafri. When the netizen asked “Why do you live far away from your husband? You said he came after three months. Don’t you think it [the distance] impacts your daughter?” Another blessed soul on the internet responded: “He’s a pilot, that’s why.” Breathing a sigh of relief, Jung thanked this virtual angel saying, “Thank you for explaining because meri tou himmat khatam hogayi hai (I have had it)."

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