Amna Ilyas hits back at ‘self-proclaimed critic’ after dance performance backlash
Pakistani actress and model Amna Ilyas has delivered a fiery response to a drama critic who allegedly labeled her “cheap” following her recent dance performance, accusing him of promoting the policing of women's choices. Without naming the critic directly, Ilyas strongly challenged his credibility and condemned what she described as a pattern of targeting women over their lifestyle and personal decisions.
Taking to her Instagram handle, the actress shared a video in which she spoke at length about violence against women and the role public figures can play in shaping attitudes toward them.
“Aurton ke khilaf jitna bhi violence hota hai, woh maari jati hain, kaati jati hain, jalai jati hain, rape ki jati hain…” Ilyas said, highlighting the different forms of violence women continue to face.
She then appeared to directly address the unnamed critic, accusing him of using his platform to encourage hostility toward women.
“Mubarak ho! Aap sirf ek self-acclaimed critic nahi hain, balke aap ek murderer bhi hain, kyun ke aap jaise mard is poore fitne ko promote karte hain,” she said.
The actress explained that she had recently performed a dance at an awards ceremony, receiving both criticism and appreciation from viewers. Amid the mixed reactions, she said a video by an unnamed individual came to her attention in which she was allegedly described as “cheap.”
Rather than ignoring the criticism, Ilyas said she decided to look into the critic's background and watch some of his videos to understand his credibility.
According to the actress, what she found led her to believe that the critic repeatedly engages in what she described as moral policing of women.
She claimed that his videos frequently target women whose lifestyles or choices do not align with his personal views, arguing that such commentary reinforces the idea that women should live according to a man's standards.
“You have a microphone, you have a platform, and you choose to instigate violence against women,” Ilyas said, stressing that influential voices carry responsibility for the messages they put into the public sphere.
The actress also made it clear that the criticism would not influence her choices. “I don't care what other people think. I will do what I want and live my life the way I want,” she asserted.
Ilyas further argued that harsh rhetoric against women can have more serious consequences for those who are already vulnerable, saying that such narratives can effectively give men a perceived “license” to control or mistreat women.
She accused the critic of using his platform for financial gain while normalizing the idea that women should not have the freedom to make their own decisions.
The actress's comments appear to have been prompted by recent criticism from drama critic Ejaz Waris, who reportedly called Ilyas “cheap” while commenting on her dance performance at a recent awards ceremony.
Although Ilyas did not mention Waris by name in her video, the timing and context of her remarks led social media users to connect her statement with the controversy surrounding his criticism.
Several fellow celebrities, including Kinza Hashmi, Mamya Shajaffar, Yashma Gill and Zoha Touqeer, showed support for Ilyas in the comments section.
Her response has since sparked a wider conversation online about moral policing, women's autonomy and the boundaries of celebrity criticism, with many users debating whether public figures should be scrutinized for their personal choices and performances.