On Tuesday, model-turned-actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak sparked a social media storm after an Instagram put up wherein she named and criticised her home helper, Musarrat, for her spending decisions (infringement of privateness, depend one).
The put up started in a story model, attribute of the left column of the actor’s Instagram grid. In response to Khattak, her mom referred to as furiously after having accessed and scrutinised Musarrat’s social media by means of the actor’s telephone — infringement of privateness, depend two. Khattak initially started on a half-decent foot, noting that, “This cash was meant for charity. If somebody chooses to spend it nevertheless they need, that is on them.”
However that was the ounce of decency within the put up. The Teri Meri Kahani star went onto state, “It hurts to see that if you attempt to assist people who find themselves underprivileged, they find yourself losing cash.” She expressed disappointment concerning her home assist spending PKR50,000 – cash Khattak had given her – on gadgets comparable to Eid garments and a bicycle for her kids, inside two days. The actor went on to inform her viewers about her helper’s and her husband’s wages (infringement of privateness, depend three), utilizing the numbers to elaborate upon how she would have most popular to make the purchases herself, choosing thrift purchasing at Sunday Markets or shopping for fabric from Liberty market to get it stitched at a less expensive value.
Moreover, Khattak publicly detailed features of Musarrat’s private life, together with the situation of her lavatory and her dwelling’s leaky roof, with out her consent (infringement of privateness, depend 4). All this was not sufficient; the actor rounded off the put up by telling her followers precisely what her helper purchased, for a way a lot and previous to this incident, precisely what number of of her personal garments she had already given away to her (infringement of privateness, depend ?).
Social media firestorm
The web swiftly criticised Khattak’s remarks. One consumer described it as “an influence transfer disguised as kindness,” highlighting the unsettling tendency to dictate the lives of these receiving charity. In the same vein, one other IG consumer commented, “Crying on social media how your househelp spent the cash after you gave them 50k which might be nothing for you and simply the worth tag on one in every of your outfits? Is your home assist not grown sufficient to resolve what she must spend cash on?”
In a separate remark, one of many actor’s followers commented, “I assumed you had a pleasant completely happy relationship along with her and she or he was, in a means, your buddy. Does she know that you simply selected to show that very same one that trusts you sufficient to be part of your movies fortunately and genuinely?.” She went on to emphasize, “The basic subject is after we give cash, we additionally wish to play God and resolve how the opposite particular person spends cash.”
In most likely probably the most empathetic argument in opposition to the actor’s put up, the consumer mentioned, “Our helpers see us residing an extravagant life and in addition need a greater one. In addition they wish to exit and purchase issues, additionally they need pleasure. Why aren’t you content for her?” Lastly, one other consumer questioned, “Why are the poor held to such insane requirements?” Along with that, many commenters famous that if the cash was actually given within the spirit of charity, the giver had no proper to police its use. Others identified the disturbing class disconnect in Khattak’s put up.
Khattak weighs in
In response to the backlash, Khattak defended her stance within the feedback part, itemizing numerous gadgets she and her household had given Musarrat over time, together with toys, PR packages, sweets, and garments from her shoots. She claimed, “If I take you to her home, all the pieces she owns is given to her by me.” Khattak additional acknowledged, “I take into account Musarrat my sister. And as an older sister, I’ll all the time slap the s**t out of my sister for losing cash like that particularly when she is likely one of the needy ones,” which many perceived as infantilising and policing a grown lady’s private spending decisions.
Khattak additionally posted movies with Musarrat wherein they laughed on the backlash, and later made a second put up doubling down on her sentiments. She acknowledged, “I consider in monetary accountability, not only for myself however for many who work for me. I need my home assist to safe her future, care for her kids, guarantee their well being and schooling, and safeguard her dwelling and household. Saving cash will not be greed; it is survival.” On this second put up, the actor vehemently defended herself, going as far as to current her as a sufferer, solely to be met with additional criticism within the feedback.
Digital harassment or a wake-up name, one factor is for positive. The web’s backlash has probed Khattak sufficient to disturb her in any other case aesthetic Instagram grid.
