Imran Abbas calls out 'toxic' talk show culture that banks on 'demeaning' celebrities for virality

He asked other actors to discourage and boycott such shows

Actor Imran Abbas feels strongly against the "toxic culture" of talk shows where hosts ask problematic questions for the sake of views and virality. He urged all talk show hosts to stop "cornering" their guests to demean other celebrities, and instead talk about meaningful stuff.

On Wednesday, Abbas took to his Instagram Story to share why he does not appear on talk shows. Listing down questions that are obnoxious but are a "popular game trend" on talk shows, he wrote, "'He/she doesn't know how to act, he/she is overrated or worse than this actor or actress, she looks old now and shouldn't play this character, she looks plastic and horrible after surgery, he/she is pathetic at box office and fails to deliver, may God give this person strength to convert to Islam, He/she has the worst dress sense and wears tacky clothes,' what the hell, man?"

Abbas further asked why it is so important for the hosts to "demean, insult, humiliate" other actors and guests. "Don't you have anything decent to talk about, any important issue left in our society to discuss and ponder, can't you sit for a while for something deep and meaningful which needs our focus or anything which is humorous yet not derogatory?" he stated.

The Tum Kon Piya actor exclaimed that there must be other ways to get famous. "Is this the only way to go viral, become the talk of the town and sell your silly shows?" he asked.

For Abbas, the fact that some "fame-deprived" hosts with "no achievements" to flaunt, take centre stage to publicly talk about celebrities' personal lives, is audacious.

"Yes, it's one of the major reasons for me to refuse to go to these shows anymore. I strongly condemn this act of pulling someone down just to seek views, that too, at those channels which have failed to draw the attention of the audience through any substantial content," he added.

The Khuda Aur Mohabbat actor also requested other actors to join him in discouraging and boycotting such "wanna be funny/popular shows" and urge them to mind their language while on such platforms.

"Please have some morals and set a precedent since we all have a lot of responsibility when we come on screen as guests and hosts. Our whole society and people using social media have already gone insanely negative. Please don't add fuel to the fire by doing this," he said.

Abbas concluded with a reminder that "successful, busy, accomplished people with self contentment do not have the time or energy to think about what others are doing."

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