LONDON – Well known Pakistani Boxer Amir Khan’s wife Faryal Makhdoom has taken to social media to apologize to fans after using a racial word for Pakistanis.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfiIM0qFCOy/?taken-by=faryalmakhdoom
The American-born Pakistani model and makeup guru said she “didn’t mean any harm whatsoever” when she referred to herself as a “paki” in an Instagram post.
Mrs. Faryal Makhdoom provoked controversy when she shared an image of herself wearing traditional baroque print Shalwar kameez along with the caption: “The Paki inside of me @deluxe collections.”
Let’s have a look at the post by Makhdoom:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmbG7e_AJOS/?utm_source=ig_embed
Widespread use of the word ‘paki’ dates back to the 1960s when it was associated with violence towards those of South Asian descent.
The mother-of-two’s use of the derogative term prompted a strong response from scores of her 860K followers, with one person writing: “Disgusting for you to use the word ‘PAKI’! It’s a term used by racists and not terminology to be proud of!”
Let’s have a look at some of the comments by social-media users:
However, a number of fans came to her defense, claiming she was entitled to adopt the phrase because of her cultural heritage.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiedgqNlkLW/?taken-by=faryalmakhdoom
“She is Pakistani she can call her self whatever she wants to leave her alone,” one commenter said.
Another added: “False indignation over a non-issue is what this is. She’s Pakistani, she can say it if she wants. You have your opinion, I have mine.”
After facing heavy criticism, Mrs. Amir Khan posted an apology in her Instagram stories, she penned an apology to her fans to suggest the phrase was not offensive in American culture.
