Over the weekend, a video featuring Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan circulated widely on social media, showcasing a distressing incident where the renowned Qawwali artist appeared to be involved in a physical altercation with a man. Shared initially on X (formerly Twitter), the footage depicted Rahat Fateh Ali Khan slapping and aggressively confronting the individual, demanding information about a missing bottle.
In the unsettling scenes, the man repeatedly claimed ignorance about the whereabouts of the bottle, prompting the singer to express his frustration through physical force. Onlookers at the scene attempted to intervene, attempting to separate Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from the man in distress.
Watch the video here:
Following the video’s virality, social media users expressed widespread condemnation towards the Pakistani singer. In response to the backlash, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan offered a clarification, characterizing the incident as a “personal issue.” Samaa TV, a Pakistani broadcaster, identified the man as an employee of the singer. They were expressing concern about a perceived increase in violent behavior among artists.
In the video clip, the singer sternly warns the man, threatening physical consequences if the missing bottle is not located. Netizens criticized Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for his actions, prompting him to further clarify the situation. In a subsequent video shared on the microblogging site, the singer explained the incident as a matter between a teacher (ustad) and his student (shagird).
Khan elaborated on the dynamics of their relationship. He emphasized that the incident was a disciplinary measure rather than an act of aggression. The student, featured in the video alongside his father, corroborated this explanation. He asserted that there was no malicious intent behind the incident. He clarified that the missing bottle contained holy water and defended the singer against those attempting to tarnish his reputation.
In conclusion, the incident, initially alarming in the viral video, was later framed by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as a disciplinary action within the context of a teacher-student relationship. The student involved asserted that there was no ill intention, portraying the singer as a mentor figure who cares deeply for his disciples.