Zaid Ali T vs Hollywood

Social media sensation turns down offer to star in film, refuses to lock lips on screen.

Canadian YouTube sensation Zaid Ali T announced on Wednesday that he has turned down a role offered to him in a Hollywood film due to a kissing scene he was unwilling to do. He took to his Facebook page and shared a post, elucidating that he could never imagine doing something of the sort.

He added that he always told himself he would never “sell himself out” regardless of how much money and fame it would bring him. “Ever since I started making videos, I told myself I would never sell myself out or do anything that I don’t believe in no matter how much money or fame it could offer me,” he posted. “Being true to yourself and your morals is one of the best feelings and it shows that you have achieved something in your life. There’s something better written for me, maybe not. But I am very happy with my decision.”

With over 147,000 Twitter followers, Zaid quickly became a household name for desis across the globe by uploading videos, which comically point out the differences between cultures. Almost four years on, Zaid has over two million ‘likes’ on his Facebook page and over one hundred videos on his YouTube channel.

Zaid’s videos showcase desis as adopting multiple roles, such as that of a gora, girl and a boy – all at the same time. His mother also features in many of his videos. Among his famous videos are Asking for money (White kids vs Brown kids) and ‘Paying at the restaurant (White people vs Brown people).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th,  2015.

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