YouTuber Shahveer Jafry is facing criticism for a video he posted that makes light of domestic violence. In the clip, Jafry pretends to choke his sleeping wife with a pillow, only to realize he’s pressing on the wrong side of the couch. Many people found the video insensitive and inappropriate, especially given the prevalence of domestic violence in the country. Although the video has since been deleted, several screen recordings are circulating on social media, sparking further outrage.
“Jokes about strangling your wife or murdering women can NEVER be made with “good intentions” nor is it “innocent humor.” It is dark, triggering (especially to those who are victims) and a terrible way to desensitize a society where gender-based violence is already very high.”
“Jokes about domestic violence are never acceptable. Domestic violence is a crime and making light of it is inappropriate and insensitive. It’s important to remember that words have power, and joking about domestic violence can perpetuate harmful attitudes and behaviors.”
“Honestly would be horrified if my husband/partner thought it was okay to make a joke about killing me. I’m genuinely confused what’s funny here. Also always rmb that jokes often normalise and trivialise things and make it harder for you to identify perpetrators!”
“How is SUFFOCATING YOUR WIFE WITH A PILLOW a joke? At what part am I supposed to think ha ha ha damn! Aap bta dou Chalo Aik point batao jahan I would let out a huge LOL when a man ‘acts’ like he’s trying to kill his wife.”
“41.3k likes on a video where tiktoker, Shahveer Jafry, chokes his wife as a joke in a country where domestic violence is rampant, where women ACTUALLY get killed by their husbands! My blood is boiling”
“People seeing that shahveer video and saying it’s all good fun and should be taken as dark humor, need to understand shaveer’s core audience isn’t dark humor enthusiasts or people who even understand it he’s a person whose videos are sent in WhatsApp family group forwards”
On the Other Hand, People Came Out In Support
“Pakistanis NEED to stop crying on everything ajeeb”
“Tv series and movies show much more voilence..ban them as well.dont be hypocrite”
“its literally not that deep bro cancel culture is rlly being annoying at this point”
“Can you just stfu and stop finding a keera in everything?? Humor bhi koi cheez hoty hai baji.”
Pakistan has an alarming record when it comes to women’s safety and domestic violence. The country ranks 164 out of 167 on the Georgetown Institute’s Women, Peace, and Security index and is the 6th most dangerous country for women overall. Domestic surveys suggest that up to 70-90% of married women in Punjab face abuse of some form from their partners, be it physical, psychological, or economic. In 2022, over 63,367 cases of domestic crimes were reported, with many cases still unreported. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, approximately 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lives. (Source: Tribune) .These statistics paint a grim picture of the state of women’s safety and domestic violence in Pakistan. As influencers, people have a duty to ensure that the content they produce is responsible and doesn’t contribute to the normalization of harmful behavior. Creators have the power to influence and shape the opinions of countless individuals, and with that power comes the need to be responsible and mindful of the messages they are putting out there.
While some netizens were quick to denounce the video, others felt we need to cut loose and know when someone is posting in jest. A couple having some fun or domestic violence triggers? What is it for you?
