CARACHI: On Sunday, Malala Yousafzai attended the 95th Academy Awards and lived her best life in a stunning Ralph Lauren dress and met some of Hollywood’s biggest names. While the activist received a warm reception overseas, people at home had a lot to say about her Oscar debut. Some people especially 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 poke fun at her desi accent, many of her followers were quick to defend Malala and praise her Oscar appearance.
Amreeka mein reh kr b, Aik British elite se shaadi kr kb agar Apki angrezi Itni pathetic hai to laanat hai bai Aisi “Training” per!
And idc how many haters I get after that!pic.twitter.com/43lFK7dJ4q– meenay (@lanadelmeem) March 13, 2023
Zunaira Inam Khan was one of many who took to Twitter to wonder what was wrong with Malala and her accent on the white carpet at the Oscars. She rightly pointed out that the criticism against Malala was not just elitist but a product of colonialism.
What exactly is wrong with his English?? Are you trying to imply that having an accent is the problem? Because that’s a really elitist position, bullshit. Colonialism really hurt us, didn’t it? https://t.co/20DVsgPn4V
— Zunaira Inam Khan (@ZunairaInam) March 14, 2023
May Allah free Pakistanis from the shackles of colonization https://t.co/1zM9Z6QhKV
— twinkter 🫡 (@winccentric) March 14, 2023
Nadia Jamil was quick to defend Malala, calling her a “heroine” and a “brave beautiful young woman”. She also reminded trolls why Malala is seen as a role model.
Shame on you for making fun of our heroes. You take a bullet in the face, which paralyzes half your face, to defend girls’ education and win a Nobel Prize for Pakistan.
Blocked for having an Angrezi accent complex and being a jealous person of a beautiful, very brave young woman! https://t.co/wivh2qyN0N— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) March 15, 2023
Some have pointed out that having an American or British accent does not make anyone superior.
How do you know if someone is a modern-day spiritual slave?
They think the English language and accent makes a person better and superior. Must take an extraordinary level of pettiness to hate a Nobel Peace Prize laureate because he doesn’t speak English well https://t.co/jkVIaVyalg— ehbeerawr (@ehbeerawr) March 14, 2023
75 years before Pakistan’s independence, but that mindset of believing English to be a superior language and judging people based solely on 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 how natural the Nobel laureate was.
It is the purest and most original sound that a born South Asian can have. Much better than those of their colonial fathers. https://t.co/mzmaQ9XAg3
— Kanye Malik (@discourseluver) March 14, 2023
Needless to say, there was no room for trolls against Malala and her Oscar debut.
