Pakistani vocalist Rahat Fateh Ali Khan found himself embroiled in a significant controversy after a video surfaced showing him physically assaulting his house assistant and verbally abusing him while questioning a missing bottle. The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread public condemnation of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s behavior and demanding accountability from public figures.
Absolutely shameful. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan what you have done is extremely unacceptable! The authorities must take action against this brutality. Shame on you! #RahatFatehAliKhan pic.twitter.com/TD2TBxoOtL
— Yamaan Shahid (@realYamaan) January 27, 2024
The footage, apparently recorded covertly, captured several instances of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan verbally berating his house assistant, identified as Naveed Hasnain. He threw a shoe, slapped him, and even forcibly pulled him by the hair to the ground as Naveed pleaded for mercy while bystanders attempted to intervene.
In response to the backlash, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan issued an apology on his Instagram account, featuring Naveed Hasnain and his father. He characterized the incident as a private matter between a mentor and a student, clarifying that the bottle in question contained water blessed by a spiritual leader.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan mentioned apologizing to Naveed after the incident and stressed their mentor-student relationship, where praise follows good performance and consequences follow mistakes. Naveed also spoke in the video, defending Rahat as his teacher and accusing the video’s leaker of attempting to defame him.
بوتل میں پیر صاحب کا دم کیا ہوا پانی تھا pic.twitter.com/tTwQqkUS5n
— Tariq Mateen (@tariqmateen) January 27, 2024
The video also showcased Naveed’s father, who supported the relationship dynamics, and Rahat’s long-serving driver, emphasizing Rahat’s non-abusive behavior towards him over their forty-year association.
Netizens Get Creative:
The internet platform X, previously identified as Twitter, was inundated with amusing memes. Although these memes offered amusement, it’s essential to underscore, particularly at this pivotal moment, that irrespective of the bottle’s contents, the behavior itself is unquestionably inappropriate, and there is no justification for it.
Not sure what's more embarrassing — the disturbing clip in which #RahatFatehAliKhan is physically abusing that man or the explanatory statement video where he's justifying his dastardly act.
— Sayantan Ghosh (@sayantansunnyg) January 27, 2024
I would not be able to hear a lot of lovely music of #RahatFatehAliKhan. Watching a man who comes from the tradition of Sufi music, beat someone who works for him so mercilessly means I and many others have to cancel his music
— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) January 27, 2024
Just great!
He showed up, asking for forgiveness. Stop giving him your support, seriously! The way he behaved was absolutely despicable, like he had no humanity left in him. #RahatFatehAliKhan #BoycottHisSongsForever https://t.co/YRUKergvOx pic.twitter.com/au9j8YXULX
— Nida Nayab Shah (@NidaNayabShah_4) January 28, 2024
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