In a world that is supposedly moving forward, a single morning show segment can sometimes feel like a time machine—and not a fun one. This past week, veteran actress Saba Faisal found herself at the center of a digital storm that refused to die down, proving that in 2025, audiences are no longer willing to swallow “traditional” advice that tastes like regression.
The Comments: Rules for a “Peaceful” Home
It all started when Saba Faisal appeared on national television and decided to share her “formula” for a successful marriage. Her advice wasn’t about communication, mutual respect, or shared goals; instead, it focused on the unchallenged authority of the in-laws and the total suppression of the bride.
Saba argued that a mother-in-law’s biggest mistake is letting a new bride have autonomy over her own wedding clothes. According to her, if a woman makes her own choices from day one, it sets a “dangerous” precedent for independence.
Perhaps most shocking was her suggestion that a woman must be “goongi aur behri” (deaf and dumb) at her in-laws’ house to ensure harmony. She framed this as “forgiving and overlooking,” but to the thousands of viewers watching, it sounded like a manual for emotional erasure.
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The Backlash: A Generational “No”
The internet didn’t just disagree; it erupted. Actresses like Alizeh Shah and Hira Khan were quick to call out the toxic nature of these remarks, questioning how such authoritarian ideas were allowed to be broadcast without challenge. On social media, the sentiment was clear: “Trauma-dumping on young girls isn’t guidance; it’s harm.”
The backlash grew so loud that Saba eventually posted a clarification video on Instagram. She apologized for the specific “deaf and dumb” phrasing, claiming she meant “patience”, but doubled down on her stance regarding bridal attire, insisting that a bride’s tastes should “merge” with her new family’s preferences to avoid friction.
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The Danger of the “Celebrity Expert”
This controversy brings us to a much larger, more uncomfortable truth: Why are we looking to actors for life-altering psychological and marital advice?
Being a talented performer does not make one a sociologist, a therapist, or a domestic expert. When we give celebrities a platform to preach, we risk normalizing ideas that are not just outdated, but actively dangerous. Saba Faisal’s brand of “wisdom” is deeply rooted in internalized misogyny, the idea that a woman’s peace is only achievable through her silence and the surrender of her identity.
By framing control as “love” and suppression as “harmony,” these celebrity sermons do real-time damage to the progress of women’s rights in Pakistan. It is high time we stop treating fame as a qualification for moral leadership. A happy marriage shouldn’t require a woman to lose her voice; it should be the place where her voice is most valued.
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