Indian general entertainment channel Zindagi announced on Tuesday that it will remove its latest series, Barzakh, from YouTube Pakistan starting August 9, following criticism for allegedly promoting queer content.
Directed by Asim Abbasi, known for “Churails” and “Cake,” Barzakh sparked controversy due to its perceived LGBTQ themes. The first episode has garnered over four million views on YouTube. The show stars Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, M. Fawad Khan, Salman Shahid, Khushhal Khan, Sajid Hasan, Uzma Beg, and Nighat Choudhry.
“We, at Zindagi and Team Barzakh, extend our heartfelt gratitude to our global audience for their unwavering support for Barzakh – a show that was created to bring people together everywhere. But in light of the current public sentiment in Pakistan, we have made the decision to voluntarily withdraw Barzakh from YouTube Pakistan, effective August 9, 2024. This decision underscores our dedication to honouring our audiences without causing alienation. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued support,” the Zindagi handle posted on Instagram.
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Earlier, in response to the criticism, Abbasi defended his creative choices, stating, “With all due respect, if you find queer/non-heteronormative storylines ‘distasteful,’ please do not watch my content. Thank you.” He tagged the Barzakh team and reiterated their commitment to telling LGBTQ stories, emphasizing their importance and relevance.
