A witty clapback takes aim at toxic masculinity

Osman Khalid Butt uses humour to challenge macho mindsets

LAHORE:

Osman Khalid Butt has long been one of the few male actors in Pakistan's entertainment industry who uses his platform to speak about social issues with honesty and conviction.

Known for his articulate stance on women's rights and feminism, Butt has never shied away from calling out hypocrisy or regressive mindsets.

Whether it was voicing his support for justice in the Noor Mukaddam case or collaborating with The Citizens Foundation to promote education for young girls, the actor always shows that his activism is more than just words.

So, it was hardly surprising when he recently called out toxic masculinity on X (formerly Twitter) with his signature wit and sharp humour. It all began with a tweet about the popular drama 'Jama Taqseem', starring Mawra Hocane and Talha Chahour.

The drama, which is currently airing on television, has been receiving both commercial success and critical praise for its hard-hitting portrayal of life in a joint family.

It explores themes such as the rights of married women in Islam and even delves into the uncomfortable yet very real issue of harassment within families.

A user on X posted a clip from the show where Qais (played by Talha Chahour) complains to his wife Laila (played by Mawra Hocane) that his shoes, belt and other belongings were not laid out for him in the morning before he left for work.

He said, "I was treated like a prince, my sister-in-law and mother would run around after me, my house used to shine and now I can't even find my belt in the morning?"

The tweet accompanying the clip read, "Marriage is scary. What if he needs a wife to keep his shoes, socks, belt, and underwear in the right place?"

As expected, opinions on the platform varied wildly. Another user—clearly a man—decided to share his take, writing that men should "never marry a girl who can't tie a tie and leaves your socks and shoes dirty."

Alright. Bizarre, clearly, Osman Khalid Butt thought so too. The actor responded with his trademark mix of sarcasm and precision, tweeting, "This list is weak. Allow me to expand."

What followed was a masterclass in satire, as Butt humorously expanded the list to highlight just how ridiculous such expectations sound when held up to scrutiny.

His response struck a chord across the platform, quickly going viral for its clever delivery and strong message.

One user summed it up perfectly: "After Jinnah's 14 points, we have Obi's 26 points. If this doesn't make it into the Pakistani Literature syllabus, we riot." We couldn't agree more.