Photo: Variety
KARACHI: On Sunday, Malala Yousafzai attended the 95th Academy Awards and was living her best life in a stunning in a Ralph Lauren gown and meeting some of the biggest names in Hollywood. While the activist received a warm welcome abroad, people back home had a lot to say about her Oscar debut. Some people specially had a problem with Malala’s accent, which by the way, was quite natural for a South Asian. While some trolls took to Twitter to mock her desi accent, many of her supporters were quick to defend Malala and praise her Oscars appearance.
Amreeka mein reh kr b, Aik British elite se shaadi kr k b agar Apki angrezi Itni pathetic hai to laanat hai bai Aisi “Training” per !
And idc how many haters I get after this !pic.twitter.com/43lFK7dJ4q— meenay (@lanadelmeem) March 13, 2023
Zunaira Inam Khan was one of the many who took to twitter to question just what was wrong with Malala and her accent on the Oscars white carpet. She rightly pointed out that the criticism against Malala was not just elitist but was a product of colonialism.
What exactly is wrong with her English?? Are you trying to imply that having an accent is the problem? Because that’s a really elitist, bullshit stance. Colonialism really did a number on us, didn’t it? https://t.co/20DVsgPn4V
— Zunaira Inam Khan (@ZunairaInam) March 14, 2023
may allah release pakistanis from the shackles of colonisation https://t.co/1zM9Z6QhKV
— twinkter 🫡 (@winccentric) March 14, 2023
Nadia Jamil was quick to defend Malala by calling her a “hero” and a “brave fine young woman.” She also reminded the trolls of just why Malala is looked up to as a role model.
Shame on you for mocking our hero’s. You take a bullet in the face, that paralyses half your face, to stand for educating girls & win a Nobel Prize for Pakistan.
Blocked for having an angrezi accent complex and being a nobody whose jealous of a very brave fine young woman! https://t.co/wivh2qyN0N— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) March 15, 2023
Some pointed out that having an American or British accent doesn’t make anyone superior.
How to find out if someone is a modern day spiritual slave?
They think English language and accent makes a person better and superior. Must take an extraordinary level of petty to hate a Nobel peace prize winner cuz they don’t speak English well https://t.co/jkVIaVyalg— ehbeerawr (@ehbeerawr) March 14, 2023
75 years to the Independence of Pakistan but this mindset of believing English is a superior language and judging people merely on basis of the accent and grammar of a foreign language still exists!! Colonialism affects generations. 😏 https://t.co/vYtgoYzBtb
— Amrat. (@amrataly) March 14, 2023
Others pointed out just how natural the Nobel laureate was.
It’s the most unfiltered and original a born south asian can sound. Far better than the ones larping their colonial fathers. https://t.co/mzmaQ9XAg3
— Kanye Malik (@discourseluver) March 14, 2023
Needless to say, there was no space for trolls against Malala and her Oscars debut.
