"A joke like that is never, ever, okay."
Pakistani YouTuber Rajab Butt has issued a public apology after facing intense backlash over an extremely insensitive joke about child abuse.
The controversy began when a clip from a live broadcast with fellow creator Zaid Ali went viral across Pakistani social media platforms.
During the broadcast, Rajab commented on Zaid’s flat facial expression by making a deeply disturbing comparison.
He said: “Believe me, this is what a child’s face looks like right after being abused, or when he is abused and not even given money afterwards.”
The clip spread rapidly online and sparked immediate, widespread outrage from fans, followers, and several prominent Pakistani celebrities.
Actress Mishi Khan was among the first public figures to speak out strongly against the remarks made during the live broadcast.
She said: “You should be ashamed of yourself.
“There was a time I used to say good things about you, but you don’t even realise what you are saying.
“Right now, cases of child abuse are rising across Pakistan, and you are talking about something this serious in such a manner.”
Model and actress Mahair Amir also addressed the controversy directly through her Instagram Stories with a short but sharply worded statement:
“Rape. Assault. Murder. These words are not supposed to be your punchline! Have some sense.”
Actor Tipu Sharif added his voice to the growing chorus of condemnation, reflecting on how someone with Rajab’s platform could make such a remark.
He said: “About an hour ago, I saw a clip of a well-known Pakistani influencer making an inappropriate comment.
“When I asked people about him, I found out he is very popular and that Allah has blessed him with a lot of respect and fame, but humanity has never touched him.”
Faced with the scale of the backlash, Rajab Butt took to Instagram Stories to issue a public apology.
He wrote: “Over the past few days, a video of mine has been circulating in which I said something that was extremely inappropriate.
“Regardless of my intentions or the situation at the time, it was completely below the belt.”
“A joke like that is never, ever, okay.”
He acknowledged that such jokes have unfortunately been normalised in informal gatherings among men.
He wrote: “Knowing how grave and painful the situation in our country is when it comes to this particular issue, I should have been more sensitive.
“Even beyond that, it is something that should never have been made a joke about in the first place.”
He then offered a direct and personal apology to those who had been hurt by what was said during the live broadcast.
“From the bottom of my heart, I apologise to everyone whose sentiments I have hurt, whose traumas I may have triggered and who I have made uncomfortable through my words.
“This is an old video, but I understand that its age does not excuse what was said.”
He ended the note by committing to personal growth and greater responsibility in his conduct as a public figure.
Rajab Butt concluded that he is trying to “learn, unlearn and become more mindful and responsible” about the things he says.
