Pakistani TikTok star Rajab Butt is facing a wave of public anger after making a distasteful remark referencing child sexual abuse during a live stream with fellow content creator Zaid Ali. The clip, which quickly went viral after being reshared by the Instagram page Elaan Today, has drawn condemnation from users, activists and fellow creators alike, according to Reviewit.pk, Dunya News and Daily Pakistan.
According to reports, Rajab made the comment while reacting to Zaid Ali’s facial expression during the broadcast, comparing it to that of a child who had suffered sexual abuse. The remark was widely criticised as trivialising a serious crime for the sake of a joke, with commentators noting that Rajab Butt commands a massive following largely made up of young viewers.
“Sexual abuse against a child framed as a punchline for a joke… rape culture in society starts with harmless jokes,” one social media user wrote in reaction to the clip, as quoted by Reviewit.pk.
The backlash spread quickly across Pakistani social media, with many users tagging government departments, police officials and political figures to demand action against the content creator. Some called for his TikTok and YouTube channels to be restricted or banned outright, while others argued the incident reflects a broader lack of accountability for influencers who address sensitive subjects, including sexual violence against children, without regard for the impact of their words.
As of this report, Rajab Butt has not issued a public statement or apology addressing the backlash, and no regulatory body has announced formal action against him over the remark.
Our Opinion
This controversy is less about one influencer’s poor judgment than about a wider gap in how Pakistan’s fast-growing live-streaming culture polices itself; platforms like TikTok reward reach and reaction over restraint, and creators with tens of millions of young followers are rarely held to the same editorial standards as traditional broadcasters, which is precisely why moments like this keep repeating rather than being learning experiences.
