The Latest From Evergreen Troll Diaries: Shoaib Akhtar’s Make-Up

How does one justify the unnecessary hate?

A video has emerged on social media recently that shows Akhtar with make-up on, talking about the secret behind his energy and how he stays fit. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook) 

(Photo: Facebook/The Leaks Page)

You know we haven’t come a long way when you notice articles like these popping up on your feed every second day. Leave alone hefty terms like gender-role reversal and sexism, we haven’t got the ‘live-and-let-live’ part right yet. The recent trolling that former Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar had to face is proof.

A video has emerged on social media recently that shows Akhtar in make-up, talking about the secret behind his energy, and how he stays fit. From the looks of it, one would think it is an interview that took place right before a shoot or an on-stage event.

Even if that wasn’t the case, the flood of hateful reactions to the video are a clear indication that none of it was warranted or justified. The hateful undercurrent also brings to light how people who do wear make-up, men or women, are viewed.

The comments castigate him for smearing his face with ‘’girly’ stuff, donning a look that reflects his “dissatisfaction’’ with his natural face, and managing to look like a ‘’hijra’’. The abrasive comments were endless, and we couldn’t help but vent at the clear distastefulness attached to all of it!

The Relentless Labeling

When cross-dressing can only mean one thing. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/The Leaks Page)  (Photo: Facebook/The Leaks Page)

The standard “disgust’’. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/The Leaks Page)  (Photo: Facebook/The Leaks Page)

The past tense, being the catch. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/The Leaks Page)  (Photo: Facebook/The Leaks Page)

Now that he isn’t looking like a man, does he no longer deserve respect? (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/The Leaks Page)  (Photo: Facebook/The Leaks Page)

“Ugly And Pathetic For A Cricketer’’

The “ugly’’ and “pathetic’’ in Akhtar. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/The Leaks Page)  (Photo: Facebook/The Leaks Page)

When cross-dressing can only mean one thing. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/The Leaks Page)  (Photo: Facebook/The Leaks Page)

Because we are far away from gender-role reversal. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/The Leaks Page)  (Photo: Facebook/The Leaks Page)

Some even went to the extent of pointing out how Akhtar mentions “awam ka pyar’’, but the fact is that “iss halat mein’’, he would only receive a certain kind of “pyar’’.

“Looks Like a Hijra...’’

Ah, the “everything ladies’’ argument. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/The Leaks Page)  (Photo: Facebook/The Leaks Page)

There is no escaping the labels and there’s absolutely no escaping the online trolls lurking in every corner. We can only hope that Akhtar takes all this in stride and chooses to do what he wants to, irrespective of what others think or say.