‘Show empathy’: Mia Khalifa defends Malala Yousafzai over response to Palestine genocide

As Israel launches full scale war on Palestine, many celebrities, including prominent faces in Pakistan, have expressed outrage and sent solidarity to the Palestinian people. Among the Pakistani public figures, a few social media users were critical of Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

Former adult star Mia Khalifa defended the activist after a Pakistani twitter user praised Mia on Twitter for vocally sending her support to Palestine, and commented on Malala’s silence on the issue.

‘You spoke more than our Noble Peace Prize winner Malala and earned huge respect for this act,” the user wrote.

You spoke more than our Noble Peace Prize winner Malala and earned huge respect for this act. 🙏

— dusky and ambivert. (@callmemahrani) October 8, 2023

To which Mia had responded:

“I appreciate your sentiment, but I don’t agree with this rhetoric. We need to be more empathetic to people’s traumas and ability to absorb and digest things unfolding in real time. Freezing is a trauma response, feeling overwhelmed is common, and we need to give people time to speak on their own time. Malala is a trailblazer for human rights, she’s an inspiration and a guiding light for many.”

I appreciate your sentiment, but I don’t agree with this rhetoric. We need to be more empathetic to people’s traumas and ability to absorb and digest things unfolding in real time. Freezing is a trauma response, feeling overwhelmed is common, and we need to give people time to… https://t.co/bFA0xs0HjD

— Mia K. (@miakhalifa) October 8, 2023

Many applauded Mia’s empathetic response.

@miakhalifa is astonishingly brilliant and empathetic.

She has been sharing several acute facts and opinions at a much higher level and depth than journalists, analysts, politicians and "peacekeepers."

Thank you very much!#FreePalastine#FreePalestineFromTheRiverToTheSea https://t.co/ND3IsySE3G

— Ulises Figueroa (@NuevasMascMX) October 8, 2023

Ohhh so slayyyyy!!pic.twitter.com/LfZh70P386 https://t.co/v7a7sGgyyl

— Mrs Dev Patel (@Wroksha) October 8, 2023

Imagine Mia herself have to remind you that putting down ur own people for clout isn't the way specially when u make fun of her trauma occasionally in ur tweets, i would delete my socials and never talk about things i don't know shit about https://t.co/L5x2ht5l5u

— agirlhasnoname (@warmchae) October 8, 2023