The actor’s latest remarks have the internet divided.
Actor Zahid Ahmed appeared on Excuse Me with Ahmad Ali Butt this week, where he discussed a range of topics including how he selects his projects, his family life, and his complicated relationship with social media. Known for being selective with his roles, Zahid’s comments in the hour-long interview have caused quite a stir online and among different communities.
At one point, host Ahmad Ali Butt asked him if there was anything he would certainly never do or promote. Zahid replied, “I will never endorse any idea, any show that promotes vulgarity like Lazawal Ishq.”
He went on to express his curiosity about the production team behind the reality show, saying, “I have tried asking people but nobody knows who has produced it.” A little digging tells us that, according to host Ayesha Omar, the show is backed with the help of a Turkish production house, although it is unclear whether it is the sole or primary team involved.
Like many critics of the show and its concept of helping contestants find love and build meaningful relationships, Zahid said that the programme goes against Islamic values and that there is an “evil agenda” behind it.
He also shared his thoughts on social media, admitting that he “hates it” and “resents it.” Zahid caused another wave of discussion when he stated that the creators of social media platforms will “burn in hell.” Although he later clarified that he did not mean content creators themselves should go to hell, rather those who created the platforms, his message did not go down well. He further said that the way influencers show off on social media is un-Islamic and a “complete antithesis of Islam.”
Unsurprisingly, his comments did not sit well with the influencer community. Several creators responded online, including Adnan Zafar, more commonly known as Ken (formerly ‘Ken Doll’), who made a video calling out what he saw as double standards between actors and influencers.
Many argued that both rely on visibility and brand work, questioning why one group should be judged more harshly than the other.
