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‘People didn’t forgive me but I still apologised’: Resham discusses trash dumping incident, thanks Armeena Khan for support

‘People didn’t forgive me but I still apologised’: Resham discusses trash dumping incident, thanks Armeena Khan for support

While she spoke about how "toxic" social media has become, she credited the Janan actor for being the "only one celebrity" who stood by her side.
01 Oct, 2022

Actor Resham sparked an online debate earlier this month when she dumped plastic waste into a river while on her way to Charsadda to help flood affectees. She was called out for her actions and apologised soon after. Now, the actor says it was the first mistake of her career and showed disappointment that no one from her fraternity spoke up for her.

Journalist Maliha Rehman spoke to her on Friday about the viral dumping video. In response, Resham said, “I was heartbroken because it was the first mistake of my career and people didn’t forgive me but I still apologised.”

She added that a living nation is when people admit their mistakes and accept them, which she did. But she also expressed disappointment in fellow stars who didn’t speak up for her or vouch for her for the efforts and work she does off screen for people. “But it’s alright, if someone doesn’t say anything about me. Everyone goes through this period once in their lifetime and I don’t have any complaints,” she said.

When asked about her apology video and the reaction that followed afterwards, Resham said that despite apologising people continued to “troll” her.

“We started our career long before social media and I didn’t know it would be this toxic. It’s becoming very toxic. If we look at it on daily basis, when they [social media users] troll people, they don’t understand that their harsh words could hurt someone. I think people have also committed suicide because of this due to mental tension. These people who troll give a lot stress. Anyhow, everyone goes through a bad time and it passes in the same way,” she said.

Resham credited actor Armeena Khanfor being the only celebrity who stood by her and thanked her for not letting her lose the strength and courage along the way. She said she’s very thankful to her.

How it all started

On September 9, a video clip started doing the rounds online featured the actor stepping out of her car on a highway to throw bread and meat into a river as an act of sadqa. What irked people was that as Resham stood by the edge of the flyover and recorded herself throwing the food into the river, she also threw the plastic containers and bags the food came in.

Prior to her apology video Resham had given an interview to The Friday Times where she said there are more pressing issues to worry about. “I am in Charsadda as we speak. I have been been quietly helping thousands affected in the calamity-hit district. But, of course, people are only interested in trolling me. I do a lot of good too,” she had reasoned.

On September 14, Resham took to Instagram and shared a clip of herself apologising to not only her followers but the entire nation. “First of all, please accept my apology because what happened shouldn’t have had happened. It happened out of carelessness and was not done intentionally and for that I apologise to the entire nation. I personally am against littering and to keep our country clean is our duty. I’m also a human and every human makes mistakes, so did I,” she had said.

She called it the “biggest mistake” of her career and said that she’ll try to make sure it never happens again. She ended her video with an apology from the “bottom of her heart”.

The following day, she was criticised by activist Shaniera Akram who said, “Without really knowing it, she single handedly produced a nation wide campaign on ‘what not to do with your rubbish’. Not even a company spending thousands on a clean Pakistan campaign could get the publicity she did.” Later, however, she expressed her appreciation of Resham’s apology.

Comments

time_travel Oct 01, 2022 01:13pm
Where is her hijab?
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Robin Mitha Oct 01, 2022 01:38pm
Resham has nothing to apologise for repeatedly, her intentions were apparently not with bad intentions. What we must give her credit for was her immediate and seemingly sincere apology when someone pointed out the error. Enough said , Resham has proven that she is a better human being than many of us .
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Citizen Oct 01, 2022 01:55pm
These are glamorous people but totally unaware of environment as how to keep it clean
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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan Oct 01, 2022 01:59pm
When these aunties are going to retire. They try their level best to stay relevant. No one cares about these self proclaimed celebrities anyway.
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Truth Oct 01, 2022 02:52pm
Dont waste people time, no one interested in you
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Oct 01, 2022 03:11pm
As you sow, so shall you reap.
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Hamid Faisal Oct 01, 2022 03:33pm
She is an actor, maybe she just acts upon as what described on the subject for getting social media coverage? They all should talk about their relevant subject, the Film Industry of our beloved country, which being lacking way behind to Bollywood (the Paroosi Mulk).
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Zain Oct 01, 2022 04:00pm
I would rather say the act was not necessary to be filmed at first place. If she believes this is Sadqa then the teaching is not to show off. She can feed the person sitting roadside. Water creatures don’t even know her I believe.
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Khalil Oct 01, 2022 06:17pm
I cant stand people littering. Let's hope she has learned from this episode. I went to Naran 4 years ago and the workers from the nearby towns were dumping huge amounts of plastic bottles and rubbish into the river.......unforgivable.
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Ahsan Gul Oct 01, 2022 07:13pm
An actress of the past wants to stay in limelight, Rashem. And why not life without money is miserable. Aren’t our politicians doing the same even though they are incompetent and semi illiterate?
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Farid Ullah Oct 01, 2022 08:16pm
Attention seeking behaviour.
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M. Saeed Oct 01, 2022 09:05pm
But, who shot the video, if not one of her close companions?
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Bunny Oct 01, 2022 09:08pm
thats the price you pay for being a celebrity dear . at least guard your speech and actions in public .
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Ahsan Gul Oct 01, 2022 09:35pm
@Khalil - nobody likes people creating trash and you are not alone. But don’t you think that she is over blowing this news for media?
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Ali Oct 01, 2022 10:09pm
This country is full of trash and hypocrites and they still have the audacity to police you.
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Aamir Oct 01, 2022 11:07pm
@Hamid Faisal can you comment on the topic instead of telling us how obsessed you are with Bollywood.
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SayNoToPlastics Oct 02, 2022 09:11am
The good lady can keep up the effort to in still awareness in the public . I am sure she can encourage her many contacts in the show business to start giving indirect messages in dramas , films , adds ...etc on how pollution is affecting us negatively and how to prevent it .
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Rehana Bounse Oct 02, 2022 10:45am
Disposing of the trash is taught to kids from kindergarten onwards. It is common practice & how can a mature adult not know what to do with it & litter. I just cannot comprehend it because putting the garbage in its proper place is common sense. Amazing it not rocket science!
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