Pakistani actress Momina Iqbal has spoken out forcefully against persistent transgender rumours, describing the experience as deeply painful and a significant mental health burden. In a recent interview, Iqbal revealed the immense personal and professional impact of the baseless claims, which garnered over 45 million views on social media platforms.
The actress recounted the initial shock when her family began receiving phone calls about the circulating rumours. While her mother remained “very chill,” Iqbal admitted to feeling “impulsive” and the need to react immediately. She shared that her friends even joked, saying, “We used to say you were a boy among us”.
Iqbal detailed the mental toll of the widespread misinformation, explaining that reporters directly called her, asking “point blank” if she was a girl.
This constant questioning led her to avoid interviews for a period, knowing it would be the first question asked. She emphasised the immense pain of a girl having to state, “it’s not like that,” and confirmed that she continues to receive messages about the false claims.
Despite the pressure to issue a statement, Iqbal firmly refused, questioning the premise of having to prove one’s gender. “How can you ask such questions of a woman?” she asked, comparing it to asking one’s mother if she gave birth to them. She asserted that if she were indeed transgender, she would carry it “gracefully,” as many educated individuals do, stating that it would not bother her, as no one is supporting her financially or running her household. She believes the rumours had “no base” and were deliberately initiated.
While acknowledging her ability as a celebrity to take legal action against the perpetrator, Iqbal stated she chose not to, feeling she lacked the time to pursue it. Instead, she adopted a defiant stance, suggesting those spreading the news were seeking to profit from her name, saying, “Let anyone who wants to earn from this news earn, your house will run, it’s good, go ahead”.
Iqbal passionately defended her right to privacy, stating that while she is a celebrity for her dramas, her “personal life, her body, nothing of that is part of this public”. She views her social media profile as her “home” and feels compelled to respond to hateful comments to protect her family from shame. The actress strongly condemned social media bullying, differentiating it from trolling and describing it as the work of “desperate” and “dirty” “keyboard warriors” who comment on others’ lives, including actresses’ clothing or character choices.
Iqbal expressed her frustration with the lack of accountability and regulation on social media. She revealed that she approached politicians about the rising tide of offensive content, including AI-generated material targeting girls, but was met with the response, “This is not our department”. She highlighted the concerning fact that videos of victims are still circulating on platforms like Instagram, which she noted was once a “safe place” but is now filled with “every type of videos,” accessible even to children. She called for immediate “checks and balances” to address this growing issue.
Concluding her remarks, Iqbal stressed the importance of mental health and urged society to foster greater empathy. She called for people to “understand each other,” “give each other time,” and “support each other” rather than exert pressure, especially given the challenging societal environment.
