Pakistani actress Saba Faisal shares clarification after facing backlash over her comments on daughters-in-law, "forgive and ignore"

Pakistani actress Saba Faisal shares clarification after facing backlash over her comments on daughters-in-law, "forgive and ignore"

Saba Faisal has found herself at the centre of a renewed backlash after attempting to clarify comments she made about daughters-in-law on a recent episode of Good Morning Pakistan. While the actor said her remarks were taken out of context and apologised for hurt sentiments, her explanation only reignited debate, with many feeling she doubled down on the very ideas that drew criticism in the first place.

The controversy began with Faisal’s appearance on the December 8 episode of the morning show, where she addressed a room full of young women and offered what she described as “tips” for adjusting to married life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by T. Edit (@tribunedit)

Speaking to host Nida Yasir, she declared that “the worst thing any mother-in-law could do was to let an incoming daughter-in-law get her own wedding dresses made,” arguing that this meant “from day one, she’ll be wearing what she’s gotten made and what she likes.”

Recounting her own marriage from 43 years ago, Faisal said all her wedding outfits were designed by her sisters-in-law, save for one dress her father-in-law insisted she choose herself. She also recalled being instructed by her mother-in-law to dress up every morning before joining the family for breakfast, presenting these practices as time-tested “values.” In another moment that sparked outrage, she quoted her husband as saying, “Your in-laws’ house is one place you should become deaf and dumb, that’s how you have a peaceful life.”

The remarks were widely condemned as archaic and authoritarian. Actor Fiza Ali criticised the mindset being promoted, saying it reflected “control, not love.” Hira Khan questioned how such views were “allowed” on national television, while Javeria Saud countered, “Not just your in-laws’ house, you need to keep your eyes, ears and tongue open everywhere to live a peaceful life.” On X, one user wrote, “Trauma-dumping on young girls isn’t guidance, it’s harm,” while another dismissed Faisal as a “pick-me.”

Even as Faisal’s daughter Sadia defended her mother online, writing “Deaf we are,” the criticism continued, with several viewers urging channels to stop offering a platform for such messaging.

On Tuesday, Faisal posted a video on Instagram addressing the controversy. She claimed her words had been taken out of context and accused critics of “not watching the full video.” She apologised for using the phrase “deaf and dumb,” saying she had meant that people should “forgive and ignore” certain things to maintain peace.

Also Read: Payal Gaming issues legal warning after intimate deepfake video goes viral, says, "This is deeply hurtful and dehumanizing"

However, she stood by her comments on wedding attire, stating that since a woman spends her life with her husband’s family, her tastes and “values” should “merge” with those of her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. She clarified that she was not advocating forcing brides to wear unwanted clothes, but said that in her family, she and her daughters would prefer to have the bride’s outfits made for her as an expression of “love and care.”

The timing of her clarification only sharpened the contrast with another recent episode of the same show. Just days later, Nadia Jamil appeared with her son and offered a radically different perspective, stating plainly, “Women have to protect women.” She added that if she ever saw her son mistreat his wife, she would tell him to leave, because “it’s my daughter-in-law’s house [too].” Jamil emphasised that her responsibility was to raise good sons, not to control future daughters-in-law.