Omer Shahzad says criticism over Makkah video misread the couple’s intentions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani actor and model Omer Shahzad has responded publicly to criticism over a video he shared from Makkah with his wife, Shanzay Lodhi, saying the content was being misunderstood.

In a statement posted on social media, Shahzad said the video was intended to preserve memories from the couple’s Umrah trip and was not shared to invite controversy. He wrote, "We've seen some of the comments on our Umrah video, and we just want to say this with clarity and respect."

Explaining the purpose of the footage, he said it was "simply a collection of our memories from Makkah not just our Umrah, but moments we shared during our time there." Shahzad also stressed that the video featured a husband and wife, adding, "We are husband and wife, and there was nothing inappropriate or wrong in what we shared."

The video had prompted criticism on social media, where some users and commentary pages questioned whether such content was suitable given the religious importance of Makkah.

Addressing that reaction, Shahzad said the assumptions being made about the couple were misplaced. He said some magazine pages had also criticised them and added, "We've also seen certain magazine pages criticising us. The judgment and assumptions being made, are unnecessary and unfair, but we respectfully disagree with the narrative being created."

He also urged people to show restraint in online discussions and avoid passing judgment on others. Shahzad wrote, "If people spent less time judging others and more time focusing on their own lives, they probably wouldn't have the time to come here and waste it on unnecessary criticism."

According to his statement, those who do not understand the couple’s intentions should avoid questioning their character.

Response follows online backlash

Shahzad’s remarks came after the video from Makkah drew negative comments online. The criticism centred on whether sharing such moments from the holy city was appropriate.

In his response, Shahzad maintained that the video reflected personal memories from the journey and said the narrative developing around it did not reflect the couple’s intentions. His statement framed the issue as one of misunderstanding rather than misconduct, while calling for a more measured tone in public commentary.

The actor’s post focused on clarifying why the video was shared and defending the couple against what he described as unfair judgment. He reiterated that the footage documented time spent together during their visit to Makkah and said the criticism had gone beyond the nature of what was actually posted.