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Meesha Shafi's 'inspiration' Rose McGowan congratulates star on initial court case win

Calling the Pakistani singer a 'warrior,' Hollywood star threw her weight behind Shafi

Entertainment Desk December 19, 2023

Hollywood actor and a prominent part in the Harvey Weinstein trial, Rose McGowan has shown public support for Meesha Shafi for her recent initial win in a defamation trial against a local channel. The singer took to her Instagram Story to share a screenshot of the comment, calling McGowan her "inspiration." Shafi also stated, "This means so much to me."

McGowan, on the other hand, took to Shafi's post about the star's recent win and wrote as a comment, "Dearest Meesha, I am thrilled for and proud of you. Being slandered and dragged is brutal as you know. I've questioned my sanity many times. Life is simpler after losing everything, more pure. Still, it never should've been us that lost it all. Your truth won. Praying for peace and healing. Love to you, fellow warrior."

This comes after the UK High Court presiding over a defamation lawsuit filed by Shafi against a private channel ruled in favor of the musician in a preliminary hearing. The court found the channel liable for making defamatory statements during a December 2020 broadcast. The channel asserted that Shafi deliberately failed to comply with court orders for two years, portraying her as someone who repeatedly disobeys legal requirements set by the court.

The court highlighted that such assertions could diminish Shafi's reputation among the general public, especially considering her status as a prominent Pakistani celebrity actively involved in advocating for women's rights. These statements were deemed contrary to societal values, potentially impacting the public's perception of Shafi negatively. As a result, the channel must present its defence to the court by January 26, 2024.

Previously, McGowan sat down with Pakistani star Ayesha Omar for an exclusive Instagram Live session in 2020. The two talked about her journey from when she first accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and how she had coped after his conviction. Omar also opened up about being preyed on by an industry giant in her early days.

McGowan discussed her recovery journey in Mexico after her traumatic experiences involving Weinstein. She credited her therapy dog, Pearl, for relieving her post-traumatic stress nightmares. McGowan also talked about her longstanding vocal stance against Weinstein and her timing before the story broke. She linked Trump's presidency as a pivotal moment for societal awareness about harassment.

Omar, too, discussed her silence after experiencing harassment, and McGowan supported the choice of revealing or withholding names based on personal timelines. Though McGowan hasn't named everyone involved, she emphasised the importance of sharing stories at one's own pace. She noted a gradual change in attitudes, citing a music producer's conversations, acknowledging past misconduct and seeking self-improvement, hinting at a potential shift in societal norms.