The Lux Style Awards 2019 has bumped into another controversy when several celebrities lashed out at the organizers for including the name of ‘an alleged harasser’ in the nominations. Not only that, these celebrities also gave up their nomination as a sign of protest.
Actress Meesha Shafi and model Eman Suleman were among the top names who refused to share the stage with an alleged sexual harasser. They requested LSA organizers to drop their names. Sources believe that they took this step over Ali Zafar being nominated for Best Actor in this year’s LSA.
Meesha Announces to Withdraw Her Nomination
Meesha Shafi took Twitter to announce her decision and said:
“In a perfect world, I would love to see women retain their space in the industry while being safe, so that the cost of speaking up is minimized, or even done away with altogether. A cost which is all too high at present” added Meesha. “Our boycotts should not overshadow our achievements. With brave women like these, I feel optimistic about getting there one day.”
To all concerned. #LSA2019 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/nfoHUlTf4W
— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) April 23, 2019
The ‘Sun Ve Belori’ singer also thanked Eman and Saima Bargfrede for taking a stand against the ‘oppressors’ and for speaking up against the sexual misconduct.
Meesha, who was nominated for her song ‘Mein’ further said the song was about our true self.
It’s about “being aligned with a higher purpose. Being our own hero and being enough. I wrote it at a particularly difficult time in my life when I needed to be all those things.”
She summed up by requesting the LSA team to remove her song from the nominees’ list.
“The irony is not lost on me given the current circumstances, and I would kindly request that my name and work be removed from the list of nominees,” wrote the singer.
Eman Suleman Speaks Out
Eman Suleman, who had taken the lead to boycott the Lux Awards, was rather straightforward with her message on social media.
Eman wrote on her Instagram handle:
“Not to rain on anyone’s parade but this isn’t for me. I’m sorry, even though I shouldn’t have to be. Maybe I’m not. I don’t know. Also, I didn’t even send in my portfolio.”
Ms. Suleman said she was honored to be considered for this award, but refused to send her portfolio.
“I do not wish to be a part of an accolade which is shared with an alleged harasser; I feel no joy. Maybe nominate someone who feels happy about it. I don’t. I am basically done.”
It should be mentioned that a year ago, Meesha Shafi went public with harassment claims against model-cum-actor Ali Zafar. She accused the actor of sexually harassing her, a charge that Zafar denies. The two are currently fighting a legal battle over the case.
