Latest news with #Musarrat
Express Tribune
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Charity or control?
On Tuesday, model-turned-actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak sparked a social media storm after an Instagram post in which she named and criticised her domestic helper, Musarrat, for her spending choices (infringement of privacy, count one). The post began in a narrative style, characteristic of the left column of the actor's Instagram grid. According to Khattak, her mother called furiously after having accessed and scrutinised Musarrat's social media through the actor's phone — infringement of privacy, count two. Khattak initially began on a half-decent foot, noting that, "This money was meant for charity. If someone chooses to spend it however they want, that's on them." But that was the ounce of decency in the post. The Teri Meri Kahani star went onto state, "It hurts to see that when you try to help people who are underprivileged, they end up wasting money." She expressed disappointment regarding her house help spending PKR50,000 - money Khattak had given her - on items such as Eid clothes and a bicycle for her children, within two days. The actor went on to tell her audience about her helper's and her husband's wages (infringement of privacy, count three), using the numbers to elaborate upon how she would have preferred to make the purchases herself, opting for thrift shopping at Sunday Markets or buying cloth from Liberty market to get it stitched at a cheaper price. Additionally, Khattak publicly detailed aspects of Musarrat's personal life, including the condition of her bathroom and her home's leaky roof, without her consent (infringement of privacy, count four). All this was not enough; the actor rounded off the post by telling her followers exactly what her helper bought, for how much and prior to this incident, exactly how many of her own clothes she had already given away to her (infringement of privacy, count ?). Social media firestorm The internet swiftly criticised Khattak's remarks. One user described it as "a power move disguised as kindness," highlighting the unsettling tendency to dictate the lives of those receiving charity. In a similar vein, another IG user commented, "Crying on social media how your househelp spent the money after you gave them 50k which is probably nothing for you and just the price tag on one of your outfits? Is your house help not grown enough to decide what she needs to spend money on?" In a separate comment, one of the actor's followers commented, "I thought you had a friendly happy relationship with her and she was, in a way, your friend. Does she know that you chose to expose that same person who trusts you enough to be a part of your videos happily and genuinely?." She went on to emphasise, "The fundamental issue is when we give money, we also want to play God and decide how the other person spends money." In probably the most empathetic argument against the actor's post, the user said, "Our helpers see us living an extravagant life and also want a better one. They also want to go out and buy things, they also want joy. Why aren't you happy for her?" Finally, another user questioned, "Why are the poor held to such insane standards?" In addition to that, many commenters noted that if the money was truly given in the spirit of charity, the giver had no right to police its use. Others pointed out the disturbing class disconnect in Khattak's post. Khattak weighs in In response to the backlash, Khattak defended her stance in the comments section, listing various items she and her family had given Musarrat over the years, including toys, PR packages, chocolates, and clothes from her shoots. She claimed, "If I take you to her house, everything she owns is given to her by me." Khattak further stated, "I consider Musarrat my sister. And as an older sister, I will always slap the s**t out of my sister for wasting money like that especially when she is one of the needy ones," which many perceived as infantilising and policing a grown woman's personal spending choices. Khattak also posted videos with Musarrat in which they laughed at the backlash, and later made a second post doubling down on her sentiments. She stated, "I believe in financial responsibility, not just for myself but for those who work for me. I want my house help to secure her future, take care of her children, ensure their health and education, and safeguard her home and family. Saving money is not greed; it's survival." In this second post, the actor vehemently defended herself, going so far as to present her as a victim, only to be met with further criticism in the comments. Digital harassment or a wake-up call, one thing is for sure. The internet's backlash has probed Khattak enough to disturb her otherwise aesthetic Instagram grid.
Express Tribune
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Saheefa Jabbar Khattak In Hot Water for Publicy Shaming House Help's Spending Choices
Saheefa Jabbar Khattak, a popular model-turned-actor, has found herself at the center of controversy after publicly shaming her house help, Musarrat, over how she spent charity money given to her. The Instagram post, which detailed Musarrat's spending of Rs50,000 in just two days on Eid clothes and a bicycle for her children, has been criticized as tone-deaf and invasive. Instead of simply addressing her concerns privately, Khattak aired her grievances online, drawing widespread backlash for her patronizing tone and public humiliation of Musarrat. In the Instagram post, Khattak expressed her frustration, writing, 'It hurts to see that when you try to help people who are underprivileged, they end up wasting money.' She went on to list what she would have bought with the money, claiming that she would have made 'better' choices, such as thrift shopping or buying stitched fabrics from Liberty Market. What caught the attention of many was not just her criticism of Musarrat's spending, but the deeply personal and intrusive details Khattak shared about her house help's life. She painted a pitiful picture of Musarrat's home, describing the leaky roof and lack of privacy in the bathroom, all without Musarrat's consent. This sparked outrage among social media users, who accused Khattak of treating her house help as a subject for public consumption rather than respecting her dignity. One user wrote, "writing an essay on Instagram shaming an uneducated woman in a language that she cannot even read, to millions of people, BY NAME." Instead of apologizing for her post, Khattak doubled down, defending her actions in lengthy comment replies. She stated, 'If I take you to her house, everything she owns is given to her by me,' which many found ironic given her earlier criticism of Musarrat's spending. She further went on to list the numerous favors she had done for Musarrat over the years, including giving her toys, chocolates, PR packages, and clothes from her shoots. This move only seemed to deepen the tone-deaf nature of the post, as it shifted the focus away from Musarrat's personal struggle and placed the spotlight on Khattak's self-proclaimed generosity. Social media users found this approach bizarre, questioning why Khattak was counting all the 'favours' she had done for Musarrat, instead of acknowledging her house help's needs as her own responsibility. The critique turned towards the performative nature of Khattak's post, with many pointing out that true charity should not come with strings attached or public judgment. If Khattak truly viewed Musarrat as a sister, as she claims, why wasn't this conversation held privately instead of in a public forum? In her post Saheefa states, "I just don't undertsand. I feel like overconsumption has become such a cultural norm." is a problem but how it makes absolutely no sense to talk about overconsumption about a group of poeple who don't even have their basic needs covered. A commenter rightfully called her out on this. "Maybe stop promoting overconsumption by being in ads of these insanely priced clothes for Eid and other occasions." Khattak's follow-up Instagram post continued to defend her position, asserting her belief in financial responsibility. She also took aim at other celebrities and influencers, accusing them of hypocrisy for living lavish lifestyles while claiming to raise funds for the underprivileged. While the issue of celebrity charity culture is undeniably an important one, Khattak's handling of the situation raised important questions about the ethics of charity and whether it's ever truly altruistic when it comes with surveillance, micromanagement, and public shaming. In a deeply classist society, charity can become entangled with a sense of entitlement and control over the lives of the less fortunate. People sometimes begin to believe that simply because they have donated money, they suddenly have a right to dictate how those who receive charity should live their lives. "You don't get to judge how people spend their money." People were confused about her disappointment and rather said she should be happy that Musarrat just wanted to make Eid special for her family. This flawed view often leads to the illusion of generosity without any real understanding of the struggles faced by the underprivileged. Saheefa Khattak's Instagram rant, while likely well-intentioned, fails to grasp this nuance and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of empathy in charitable acts. If she truly cares about Musarrat's well-being, why didn't she take the time to speak to her directly and understand her needs instead of turning the situation into a public spectacle? The performative nature of her actions begs the question: can we truly claim to be charitable if our actions are rooted in judgment, surveillance, and an inherent belief that we know what's best for others? The lesson to be taken from this controversy is simple: charity is not about showcasing your "generosity" or using your help as a means to display your own virtue. It's about offering support with respect, empathy, and understanding, without strings attached. If you are truly invested in helping others, let them make their own choices and respect their autonomy. Charity is best when it is quiet, personal, and free of judgment!
