Politics and controversies reigned on social media this week, from the historic #TrumpKimSummit to the many cases of suicide highlighting the need for reaching out to people with mental health issues. However, users also pushed back against social problems and tried to raise awareness.
1. Celebrity chef in hot water
An attempt to shame actress Priyanka Chopra on the recent Quantico controversy got Dubai-based Indian chef Atul Kochhar into a controversy of his own. A tweet, which he later deleted, was criticised for being Islamophobic and led to the Dubai hotel, which was the venue of his award-winning restaurant, cutting ties with the Michelin-starred chef.
Don’t usually call out individuals on twitter. However this tweet symbolises our misunderstandings of religion. In every religion you will have people that will utilise it for evil! Surely we should see beyond sweeping generalisations! #Freedom #Education @atulkochhar pic.twitter.com/Hfd5RrmzR0
— Sham (@pp_sham) June 11, 2018
2. #TrumpKimSummit
The historic summit between the US and North Korea took place this week and was one of the hottest topics on social media. While some praised US President Trump for successfully bringing Kim Jong Un to the negotiating table, others questioned: Who got the better deal?
Scoreboard from the #TrumpKimSummit:
— Travis Allen 🌊 (@TravisAllen02) June 12, 2018
North Korea:
- Gained international credibility
- Got the US to end war games in region
- Signed a piece of paper w a generic statement about peace
US:
- Legitimatized an oppressive dictator
- No denuclearization
- Gained ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
3. Mental health
Just three days after fashion icon Kate Spade killed herself, news broke of celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain taking his life. In another case of suicide this week, a man jumped to his death at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
4. ‘Spy pigeon’ caught
Social media had a field day after Indian officials claimed this week that they had caught a spy pigeon from Pakistan, near the Indo-Pak border with “markings on its body” that were partly in Urdu.
Unfortunately, we lost one of our brave captain ghutargoo from suicide squad, to the legends of #Indian authorities. We will remember you as a hero and will remember your services forever.
— The Eagle 🦅 - PDF (@TheEagle_PDF) June 11, 2018
India claims nabbing another ‘Pakistani spy pigeon’ https://t.co/VLERPgewVI
5. Shahid Afridi
A tweet that was supposed to highlight his love for animals ended up getting former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi in trouble as it showed a lion chained in his home.
A lion isn’t a pet. It’s a wild animal that belongs in the wild. Why would @SAfridiOfficial do this. Why. https://t.co/Kq6TgpohUM
— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) June 10, 2018
6. Kashif Jameel
Indian Twitter users were furious after a man was shot at in the Indian city of Gorakhpur. Kashif Jameel is the younger brother of Dr Kafeel Khan, an accused in the Gorakhpur tragedy involving the death of 63 children, who has alleged that he had been made a scapegoat for a “total administrative failure at the higher level”.
Dr. Kafeel and his family is paying for standing against all odds. How shamefully they are telling that he is accused of stealing oxygen. We are with him. We support #KafeelKhan @drkafeelkhan https://t.co/ubgPtxpbzu
— Khursheed Ahmed 🇮🇳 (@KhursheedAhmedA) June 10, 2018
7. Coming together
Another Indian celebrity chef was in the news, but this time for a heartwarming story of Hindu-Muslim unity. Chef Vikas Khanna had in the past shared his story of being protected by a Muslim family during the communal riots in Mumbai in 1992. He has fasted a day during Ramadan every year since. This week, he was finally reunited with the family and his tweet went viral.
Heartwarming evening.
— Vikas Khanna (@TheVikasKhanna) June 12, 2018
All Heart. Tears. Pain. Pride. Courage. Humanity. Gratitude. This will be the most significant and important EID of my life. Thank you everyone to connect me with my souls. pic.twitter.com/apdposBSDe