"This thing is ours. This is something we can do."
Riz Ahmed and his Bait co-star Guz Khan recently spoke with Haroon Rashid of BBC Asian Network about reclaiming the word ‘Paki.’
Their new Prime Video comedy series has ignited a massive debate regarding language and cultural identity.
Starring Riz Ahmed and Guz Khan, the show follows a struggling actor named Shah Latif through humiliating auditions.
It premiered on March 25, 2026, and explores themes of ambition while portraying the industry’s messy realities.
However, the core of the current controversy stems from an interview in which the use of a ‘derogatory’ slur was discussed.
Guz Khan emphasised that the specific context is crucial, especially regarding whether the person using it is South Asian.
“I was pressing quite a well-known YouTuber not long ago who, just in the guise of “bants”, was using that word.”
Ahmed responded by noting that the individual mentioned was neither Pakistani nor from a South Asian background at all.
Ahmed pointedly replied by saying: “But he’s not Pakistani. And he’s not South Asian.”
The actors suggested that members of the community could use the term internally as a form of strange bonding.
“This thing is ours. This is something we can do internally.
“But it is not permitted outside, and there is a strange kind of bonding and reclamation around that.”
Ahmed also questioned whether such language might unintentionally perpetuate certain forms of internalised self-hatred within the community itself.
Khan noted that the negative use of the term on social media has increased over the last six years.
He stated he would not judge younger people if they found empowerment by using the word in endearing ways.
“If the youngsters want to use that word in an endearing way because it empowers them, I’m not going to make judgments of them.”
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Despite their explanations, many fans who supported their Pakistani representation on screen have expressed deep discomfort with the show.
Critics argue that normalising a historically offensive term does not address the underlying issues of racism in our society.
Some viewers believe that frequent use of the slur remains deeply offensive regardless of the intended context or speaker.
They suggested that attempts to reclaim the word often reflect a form of privilege even within the South Asian diaspora.
Other people drew strong comparisons to the N-word and insisted it is never acceptable to make slurs okay.
They worry that a prominent figure like Ahmed risks reinforcing harmful narratives that could damage the community in general.
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