Hina Altaf, a prominent figure in the Pakistani entertainment industry, faced criticism on social media, specifically X, a platform once recognised as Twitter, due to an alleged post that appears to have been removed from her feed. The controversy arose when a user shared a screenshot purportedly taken from Altaf’s feed, capturing her holding a Starbucks cup. 

The issue gained attention amidst the ongoing barbarities inflicted on Palestine by Israel, leading to global calls for boycotting certain brands, Starbucks among them. The Express Tribune, however, could not independently verify the authenticity or origin of the screenshot in question. The incident stirred debates and discussions, reflecting the complexities surrounding public figures and their associations with sensitive socio-political matters.

“Pakistani celebrities are embarrassing as hell at this point,” said the X user who shared the screenshot. “They’re so weird, dumb, tone deaf and such attention seekers. Hope floppy Hina Altaf is happy after getting two minutes of fame. Sick!” Following up on their initial post, the X user continued, “She has 6.8 million followers on Instagram. Is she really that dumb who is unaware of what’s actually happening in the world? Simply, she doesn’t care about the cause.” 

As a result, many were quick to jump in and point out how the post did not exist on Altaf’s feed. “Either fake or too old,” commented one user. “Wonder [how] you had screenshot without time and date but her Instagram has no such picture in [her] recent feed,” remarked another. “She took it off I guess,” said another, venturing a guess. Yet another X user stated, “There is no such photo on her Instagram account, I just checked it.” One more X user weighed in, saying, “Did she delete that because I can’t find it.”

However, not all those who came across the post felt the same. Many were angered by this alleged act. “What even was the point of posting this in the first place?” questioned one user of the microblogging site. “Drinking Starbucks is not the flex desis think it is.” Another said, “People need to stop giving them the attention that they’re so clearly dying for.” Yet another said, “The audacity is insane because this drink is the easiest thing to boycott and you not being able to skip this drink (it doesn’t even taste that good) says a lot.”

One user offered a solution, stating, “It’s time that we stop admiring celebrities and following what’s going on in their lives.” Another angrily remarked, “They are well aware of the situation in Gaza. This is just a poor attempt to get some cheap fame.” Yet another weighed in, “Some so-called famous people really like Western stuff a lot, and that can be embarrassing. They might act weird because their actions may stem from deep insecurities, driving them to change their identity through these shameful and pathetic acts.”

Altaf is yet to respond to the accusations levied against her, despite the initial screengrab circulating extensively on social media. However, the incident did further spur discussions on the role of celebrities, their social responsibility, and the importance of discernment in following public figures’ actions. Amidst the polarisation of opinions, a call for greater awareness and less idolisation of celebrities emerged, reflecting the multifaceted dynamics between public figures and their influence on sensitive socio-political matters.

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