Chaos at London meet-and-greet sparks urgent conversation on celebrity safety, the need for safe spaces, and the reason why feminist movements are important.
What was supposed to be a thrilling experience for overseas fans to interact with two of Pakistan’s favourite stars became a moment of distress for one of them. At an East London promotional event last week, actors Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan were welcomed not only with excitement but also chaos—causing new anxiety regarding celebrity security, gender boundaries, and the responsibilities of organisers towards public figures. It also sparked larger conversations, and we will get to those.
Unruly crowd disrupts London event
On May 25, during a scheduled meet-and-greet at a supermarket in East London, Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed faced a huge turnout of fans as part of international promotions for their upcoming film, Love Guru. But the crowd, much larger than anticipated, soon got out of hand. Fans charged forward, ignoring safety barriers and any semblance of control. The situation turned chaotic as a wave of people surrounded Mahira Khan. It appears (according to videos that have now gone viral) that the crowd’s frantic surge gave her scant space to move. This disturbing scene underlines the dire perils celebrities, mostly women, face when safety mechanisms fail. Humayun Saeed, who saw the commotion, quickly stepped in to help, highlighting the inaction of the event’s designated security team. The video caused immediate outrage. Social media users were quick to recognise one security guard as a part-time TikToker, who (many agreed) wasn’t doing his job in letter and spirit and there were calls for accountability.
Fan fury and celebrity solidarity
The incident elicited ire not just from fans of Khan but also from her industry colleagues. Khan later posted a picture of a broken nail with the caption, “My nails are saying take me home,” a seemingly minor but powerful indicator of the distressing situation for the actor.
Mishi Khan reacted with an Instagram post condemning the incident, “I condemn what happened to Mahira Khan in Ilford Lane, London. It’s unfortunate how a meet-and-greet turned into chaos. Stay strong, Mahira.” Mansoor Ali Khan, a senior journalist, also voiced his disappointment, describing the incident as “ugly” and noted that Mahira, “one of Pakistan’s most respected celebrities, deserved far better.”
Online users criticised the event organisers for putting publicity first and safety second. A commenter noted, “That guard made her visibly uncomfortable—he should be held accountable.” Another said, “The lack of crowd control was evident. Who thought a supermarket could handle that kind of turnout?”
In contrast, fans praised Humayun Saeed’s quick intervention. “Humayun handled it with dignity—unlike the so-called security,” one user commented, a sentiment that echoed across various social platforms.
The need for safe spaces
This event is a bitter reminder of the unsafe circumstances in which women tend to find themselves—even when encircled by cameras, fans, and security personnel. If someone as famous, popular, and institutionally protected as Mahira Khan can be made visibly uncomfortable in such a manner, and that too in a part of London, what does that mean for women everywhere in public spaces, particularly in Pakistan.
Incidents of public harassment—even when cameras are rolling—are not uncommon. Ordinary women in Pakistan describe similar incidents on buses, in bazaars, and on university campuses. According to a 2022 study published by the Pakistan Journal of Women’s Studies, almost 68% of women surveyed in Karachi had been harassed in public places, and 85% thought that security staff were usually ill-prepared or apathetic.
In Pakistan, we tend to trivialise such matters and blame women for their clothes. But that is a deflection. It has nothing to do with clothes. This is why instead of demonising feminism, its importance in public discourse and the role of feminist activism in advocating for victims’ rights and institutional reforms remains an important one. Legal frameworks such as the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Work Place Act, 2010 exist, but implementation remains inconsistent.
Dr. Niloufer Ebrahim, a clinical psychologist, has previously described in an interview how harassment “triggers a complicated trauma cycle where the mind tries to normalise unsafe spaces as typical—particularly where the perpetrator is in a position of power or is perceived to be ‘helpful.’”
The celebrity double standard
Being a public figure does not immunise a person against harassment and the need for safe spacing—if anything, it makes it even more complicated. Stars are required to be accessible, interactive, and perpetually gracious in public appearances. However, the need to be composed, smile for selfies, and cut through mob-like adoration can—and clearly has—put them at risk, particularly when security measures are lacking.
Such incidents have happened around the world as well with artists like American singer Ariana Grande among others. Grande has shared experiences of being inappropriately touched by fans during meet-and-greets. Actor Deepika Padukone has described terrifying crowd encounters that prompted her to leave venues rapidly. These accounts indicate that stardom doesn’t protect people from violation—indeed, it may even intensify it.
A call for better systems, not just better reactions
As the dust settles, it is important to reflect not only on this particular incident but also on the larger systemic breakdown that caused it. Organisers need to rethink the format of meet-and-greets, where celebrity sightings create massive crowds. Security staff should receive sensitivity training, and go through proper background checks.
Celebrities themselves need to establish direct boundaries so everyone can be safe.
Mahira Khan’s story cannot be considered an isolated incident but must be read against the larger backdrop of society—one that cuts across class, fame, geography, and profession.
From the streets of Karachi to London, the call is the same: women want to be safe, heard, and respected. If we really want to honour that call, it starts with responsibility—not just for the men who break boundaries, but also for the systems and ideologies that allow, or rather enable, and embolden them.
“Being a public figure does not immunise a person against harassment and the need for safe spacing—if anything, it makes it even more complicated. Stars are required to be
accessible, interactive, and perpetually gracious in public
appearances. However, the need to be composed, smile for selfies, and cut through mob-like adoration can—and clearly has—put them at risk, particularly when security measures are lacking. Organisers need to rethink the format of
meet-and-greets, where celebrity sightings create massive crowds. Security staff should receive sensitivity training,
and go through proper background checks.”
