The murder of a black man George Floyd, allegedly by a police officer, in Minneapolis has sparked protests and outrage all over the world. While in the United States, people are taking to the streets to protest, in other parts of the world people are expressing their anger on social media. Celebrities and prominent personalities across the world are also raising their voice on the matter.
Read more – Zara Noor Abbas defends her decision to promote fairness products
The incident has also started a debate on the obsession with fair skin, especially in South Asia and the use of skin lightening products. Celebrities who have endorsed fairness products – like Sajal Aly, Mawra Hocane, Priyanka Chopra, Disha Patani – are being called out for doing so.
Following the debate, journalist Haroon Rashid asked his followers to name “Pakistani/Bollywood celebrities who have never endorsed a skin lightening product.” Several Pakistani female actors, including Mahira Khan, Hareem Farooq, Sanam Saeed, Ayesha Omar and Momina Mustehsan responded to Rashid’s tweet and said that they had never endorsed skin lightening products, despite multiple offers.
Long before this debate, Yasir Hussain had publicly lauded his wife Iqra Aziz for rejecting an advertisement for a whitening cream. He said that even though a lot of money was being offered, Iqra stood her ground and rejected the offer.
Later when Haroon asked if those, who have in the past endorsed such products and later apologised for doing so, should be used as examples in a bad light, Mahira said they shouldn’t be.
“We are quick to cancel, not to converse,” said Mahira.
