On November 19, musician AR Rahman and his wife, Saira Banu, shocked their fans with an announcement of their separation after 29 years of marriage. The couple shared their decision in a joint statement, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split.
While the news of the separation was already emotional, what caught the attention of many was the hashtag AR Rahman used in his social media post. The hashtag, #arrsairabreakup, left many people puzzled and led to widespread trolling on the internet.
AR Rahman posted an emotional note on X (formerly Twitter), reflecting on the end of their relationship. He expressed his sadness, saying, "We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts." He mentioned the difficulty of the situation and thanked his friends for respecting their privacy. However, in the same post, Rahman included the hashtag #arrsairabreakup, which quickly drew mixed reactions from his followers.
While Rahman’s message was one of sadness and reflection, many users on X were quick to point out the irony of using a hashtag for a sensitive and private matter.
Some felt that by creating a hashtag, Rahman was inviting more public attention rather than keeping the situation private, as he had requested in his note.
Dude wants privacy, yet, he starts a hastag for the break up. #arrsairaabreakup
Irony died a thousand times. https://t.co/xFTjvxqRxu Ondippulee | (@Ondippulee) November 19, 2024
One user commented, “2024 will go down in history as the year AR Rahman created a hashtag to announce his separation,” while another wrote, “Don’t know who’s handling Rahman’s account, but the last thing you should do when asking for privacy is to create a Page 3-ish hashtag.”
Divorce ku #arrsairaabreakup hashtag #ARRahman #sairabhanu #SairaRahmanpic.twitter.com/hnrD7JNEYO Crypto - Say No To Drugs & DMK (@crypto_sanghi) November 19, 2024
//To our friends, thank you for your kindness and for respecting our privacy as we walk through this fragile chapter.#arrsairaabreakup//Hashtag for announcing your separation? https://t.co/kKyk22tpeq
Zodiac (@Zodiac__15) November 20, 2024
AR Rahman announced divorce from his wife. Requested privacy and then created a hashtag "#ARSairaabreakup". Aise kaun privacy maangta hai bhai?#ARRahmandivorce #ARRahman pic.twitter.com/3QDFoTcM6R | Shraddha (@immortalsoulin) November 20, 2024
2024 will go down history as the year AR Rahman created a hashtag to announce his separation pic.twitter.com/psfVrZ690k
Soirse (@SaoirseAF) November 20, 2024
The hashtag created further confusion among fans and critics alike, especially since Saira's lawyer had issued a statement asking for privacy. The lawyer mentioned that Saira had made the difficult decision to separate from her husband after years of emotional strain. The statement further emphasized the pain Saira was going through and requested understanding from the public during this challenging time.
Despite this, Rahman’s post seemed to contradict the request for privacy. Many people took to social media to question why a hashtag like #arrsairabreakup was necessary when the couple was clearly going through a difficult personal situation. Social media users argued that using a hashtag in such a sensitive matter seemed more like an attempt to gain attention, rather than maintaining the privacy the couple had asked for.
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This situation sparked a debate online, with some supporting Rahman’s decision to share his feelings publicly, while others criticized his choice of words and the hashtag. The couple’s three children, Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen, also requested privacy during this time, asking the public to respect their family’s wishes.
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