The prestigious LUX Style Awards (LSAs) opened nominations for their 21st edition, unlike they usually do – two days before the event with little publicity to follow. As soon as the names dropped, viewers began to decry that it was unfair to other Pakistani artists and women. Feroze Khan, who recently came under fire for alleged abuse of his ex-wife Aliza Sultan, who posted evidence of domestic violence on the Internet, won the Best TV Actor – Audience Award for his drama Khuda Aur Mohabbatein. was nominated in the Favorites category.
Many people commented on the nominations announced in a post shared across all LSA social media handles. Activist Osama Khalji wrote, “Lux, do the right thing and stop praising abusers. Stand with survivors of abuse.” “Stop supporting abusers and harassers and show some shame to God,” said the inspirational Naiha J. Ayman. “Expected better from you this time but very disappointed and disgusted,” she added.
Popular blogger Bilal Hasan was among the first to ask, “Can you explain why a domestic abuser is one of your nominees? It’s a disrespect to all women in this country. It’s so depressing.” While Kanwal Ahmed, founder of Civil Sisters Pakistan lamented, “Horrible luxe style awards for you to nominate and celebrate abusers and harassers. That too as a brand that takes advantage of selling soap to women! Shame on you.”
A group of Instagram users commented in a similar vein. “You could have set the bar here, you could have shown some dignity, maybe some courage. In a country where Sarah and Noor’s killers have yet to be brought to justice for domestic abuse – you are one of the most famous of your time ( (problematic) decide to nominate the actor. Moreover, what happened is between them,” wrote blogger Maryam Hussain.
Hosein also took to her Instagram Stories to reveal that she had been asked to host the red carpet at this year’s LSA. However, she declined. “I knew they wouldn’t take a stand against this man,” she wrote. “He’s a money maker for them, I knew they’d not only give him awards but they’d protect him,” alleged the user. “And look at that, best actor category – for a man who beats his wife in front of his kids. Did we expect LSA to be better? I think not.”
LSA responds
The complaints seemed to fall on deaf ears until yesterday, when the brand offered an explanation for its nominations. A post shared on the LSA Instagram handle on Wednesday said, “Lux Style Awards submissions are received as part of an open call for entries from artists and channels for consideration in the awards. LSA All shortlisted nominations for the 2022 Viewers’ Choice categories are the result of exclusive audience voting without the Awards’ intervention.
It added, “As part of our third-party, independent and transparent voting process, which is audited end-to-end by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LSA shortlisting, vetting or any cannot participate in the exclusion of submissions or nominations.” In a follow-up statement, the LSAs announced that they “believe in respecting the freedom and freedom of audience to express their views, and engage in matters (except in cases of obscene or inappropriate language) on our social media platforms.” (I) do not regulate or limit.”
The reaction came after Oscar-winning filmmaker Sherman Obaid Chinoy announced that she would return her Lux Lifetime Achievement Award, which she received in 2012, in protest from the platform.
Obeid Chinoy calls a spade a spade.
