In a shocking turn of events, renowned Pakistani qawwali and playback singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan found himself at the center of controversy when a video of him beating his student went viral on the internet. The incident has left fans and fellow musicians in disbelief, prompting Khan to issue a public apology in an attempt to address the concerns and criticism surrounding his actions.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan took to social media to issue a heartfelt apology to his fans and fellow music artists. In a video statement, Khan expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging the disappointment he had caused among his supporters. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive and respectful environment in the world of music and promised to learn from this incident.
Pakistan’s music maestro said in his latest video,
I recorded this special message to apologize to everyone. I am bowing my head before my creator the Allah Almighty to seek pardon from Him first of all. I should not behave like this as a human being, and especially as an artist. The behavior that I displayed is not right and I apologize for that. I beg your forgiveness. I apologize to my fans and friends.
Rahat said in the apology video: “My fans are deeply hurt by my behavior and I apologize to all of them but first of all to Allah. I want to apologize to all of my family members, close friends, and especially my fans whose sentiments were hurt. I will not repeat this mistake ever again.”
The singer also said that he took the flood of criticism positively which made him realise his mistake and he also respected those who boycotted him to teach him a lesson for his good. “People don’t want to see their artist like this. I truly apologize for my deed.”
Rahat pointed out that a “gang” was making deliberate attempts to defame him and planned to release “more videos”.
The singer said:
The leaked video is nine months old. I have no idea how many videos they have made without my permission. This gang plans to release more videos.
The music genius said: “It wasn’t a coincidence that my videos surfaced following a press conference I held in Lahore,” Khan said while pointing fingers at his press statement last week to part ways with globally acclaimed music and concert producer Salman Ahmed who managed the musician for 12 years. Salman Ahmed has denied having any involvement.
Khan said that the attempts to defame him would fail as he would continue to sing, however, he felt sorry “only for this action”. He also predicted that some “planted and fabricated videos” could be released in the coming days.
Khan said that the leakage of videos has served as a wake-up call for him. “It’s through this leakage that I have realized that I was wrong and this has served as a wakeup call. Those who boycotted booted me are right and I respect their anger. I will reform and change myself and I will never do this again.”
The video in question showed Rahat Fateh Ali Khan engaging in a physical altercation with a student, raising questions about the ethicality of such behavior, especially from an influential figure in the music industry. Fans and critics alike were quick to express their disappointment and concern, prompting a wave of discussions on social media platforms.
The artist, who is the nephew of Qawwali king Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, shared multiple videos on Instagram containing similar clarifications about the matter.
Bearing the brunt of his violent video, the anti-violence British Asian Trust, founded by King Charles III, announced it would no longer be associated with Khan after the singer’s video went viral showing him slapping and assaulting a band member.
