Imran Abbas calls out obsession with gossip

Actor urges fellow citizens to focus on more important issues

On Friday, actor and model Imran Abbas took to Facebook to express his frustration with what he sees as the nation's unhealthy obsession with celebrity gossip, and the widespread silence over pressing societal issues. In a candid post, which was later deleted, Abbas criticised the public's preoccupation with trivial matters, calling it a distraction from the real challenges facing the country.

The deleted post was a scathing critique of those who focus on criticising celebrities rather than addressing systemic injustices or advocating for change. Abbas began by lamenting, "Once the people of this country stop focusing on the lives of celebrities, proving them to be imperfect, crafting memes, giving interviews to bloggers to discuss their private past, present or their acting, and farshi shalwars - they'll understand what is happening with them, what has already happened and what will happen now."

Abbas pointed out the collective apathy of society, adding that while the country faces increasingly dire circumstances, people choose to remain silent or indulge in negativity in unrelated areas. He wrote, "Every day we get to hear a piece of news that makes the heart hurt, but we are all silent. When we don't have the courage to speak up when required, then all the perverseness and negativity will come out in other places. What else can be expected from apathetic onlookers, standing and watching the show (and even recording it on their phones)?"

The actor invoked a powerful analogy to explain his frustration, stating, "Your whole house is on fire but you're more concerned because you can smell burnt food from your neighbour's house. In this case, there's no hope for you." He called out society for its misplaced priorities, emphasising that ignoring personal and national crises while focusing on mocking others only accelerates collective decline. His post ended with a biting invitation to critics to prove his point by posting negative comments on his page, sarcastically remarking, "Keep singing along to Hum Zinda Qoum Hain."

'Preoccupied with trivial matters'

Although the post was deleted shortly after being published, Abbas shared another message later that day, which remains visible on his Facebook page. This second post carried a similar message but was more measured in tone. It emphasised the need for the public to redirect its focus toward meaningful issues rather than trivial distractions.

In this follow-up post, Abbas wrote, "It is regrettable that we lack an understanding of our primary social issues as a nation, and where we should be actively advocating and raising our voices and shouldn't be standing as a silent spectator." He expressed concern over the public's tendency to fixate on the personal lives of celebrities, their fashion choices, and their relationships, calling it a waste of energy.

Highlighting the need for societal awareness, Abbas added, "Instead of addressing important societal matters, we often find ourselves preoccupied with trivial matters such as gossiping about celebrities, critiquing their public statements, fashion choices, performances, relationships, and personal lives. Our energies are frequently wasted on making negative comments daily."

Through his posts, Abbas urged his audience to reflect on their priorities and muster the courage to speak out against real issues. He stressed that this silence in the face of critical problems could have devastating consequences for the nation, urging people to use their voices where it matters most. "At this critical juncture, there is an unsettling silence when there should be voices raised in dissent," he said.

Abbas's comments come in the backdrop of controversies surrounding Ramazan transmissions, where hosts and celebrities have sparked debate with insensitive remarks.