Despite having been initiated a year back in the west, the #MeToo has gained traction on this side of the world just recently. However, the concept of #MeToo, and harassment in general, is still flawed in the country and people tend to pass casual comments and jokes on the topic.
On Friday, actor Osman Khalid Butt took to Instagram to wish his friend and co-star of upcoming film Baaji, Amna Ilyas, a happy birthday.
Sharing a photo of himself and Ilyas, Butt wrote, “Happy birthday, you. Am so grateful you were my Neha – what a roller-coaster it’s been, eh? Here’s to all the backstage laughs and shenanigans, the intensity and dedication with which you portrayed your character, to you practically playing my shrink when I’d forget to detach from my role. Here’s to the beautiful friendship formed along the way. Thank you for letting me into your life. To all the happiness and success you so richly deserve, a toast.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Boy2-awlK4I/?hl=en&taken-by=aclockworkobi
Unfortunately, an Instagram user decided to crack a joke under the wish writing, “Please be careful because after some time she would be accusing you of harassment because #MeToo.”
To this an irked Butt replied, “No she won’t because I conduct myself with dignity even among friends and don’t abuse my privilege. Harassment allegations are not this frivolous, nor #MeToo a movement to be taken lightly. If you don’t respect the women speaking out about the trauma they’ve endured, the least you can do is not reduce it to a reductive, inane comment. Peace.”
The user has deleted her comment since.
Apart from this, Butt also took out time to respond to other users who passed unnecessary comments.
Responding to a user who commented on Osman’s equation with Maya Ali and how he “missed” Maya among his achievements, Butt said, “First of all, Maya, or any woman for that matter, is not a trophy for me to label as an achievement.”
He continued, “Second, just because we are both busy working and don’t share pictures every fortnight doesn’t mean we are not friends anymore. Please yeh sasanikhez risalon wali commentary band karen. [Please stop creating sensation]”
To another use who insinuated that there is “something is fishy” between Osman and Ilyas, Butt replied with a simple “Shut it down.”
Osman tends to be vocal about his thoughts and ideas and often expresses them publicly. On the matter of #MeToo, Butt wrote on Twitter, “Reading utter tone-deaf comments/statements regarding the #MeToo movement and feminism in general. Gender sensitivity training should be mandatory across all fields.”
Reading utter tone-deaf comments/statements regarding the #MeToo movement & feminism in general. Gender sensitivity training should be mandatory across all fields.
— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) October 11, 2018
Osman is currently gearing up for the release of his film, the multi-starrer Baaji. Directed by Saqib Malik, the film also starres Meera, Mohsin Abbas Haider, Ali Kazmi and Nayyer Ijaz.
