Ali Sethi, a Pakistani artist who gained worldwide recognition for his hit song “Pasoori,” caused a stir on the internet when rumours that he had wed Salman Toor, a Pakistani painter and friend of his for many years, went viral. While the gay community celebrated the announcement, Pakistani Islamists demanded Sethi be boycotted and even threatened him with death.
The Pakistani audience was of the opinion that Ali’s conduct was an affront to Islam, which sparked a fierce debate on social media. Ali Sethi needs to be hanged, added some internet users from the bordering nation.
It is unknown how the rumour originally spread, but it happened just before dawn on Saturday that the singer broke his silence.
According to the first reports, Sethi and Toor had been “more than friends” for a very long time and had recently wed in a small ceremony in New York.
But on Tuesday, Sethi finally made things clear by issuing a formal statement.
He took to his Instagram handle and penned a note, “I am not married, I don’t know who started the rumour.” He also cheekily added, “But maybe they should help market my new release”.
He linked his latest number ‘Paniya’ along with the note.
Sethi is among the very few Pakistani artists who have come out as gay openly. In an earlier interview, he had claimed that “there is a lot of homophobia in Pakistan” and that it was only getting worse.
It should be reminded that homosexuality is illegal in Pakistan and is subject to a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
Toor, on the other hand, is a painter from Pakistan who now resides and works in New York.