Lollywood diva Maya Ali has spoken out strongly in support of Yumna Zaidi following a recent controversy involving age shaming remarks and misinformation aired on national television.
Taking to Instagram, Maya expressed disappointment over how artists are often undermined by their own peers instead of being uplifted.
In her story, Maya highlighted the dedication actors put into their craft and questioned the lack of respect within the industry.
She wrote, “When will we start respecting our own talent, our actors, our stars? People dedicate their lives to their craft day and night, and the saddest part is, it’s not outsiders pulling them down, it’s often voices from within our own industry doing it publicly on big platforms.”
She further stressed that success comes with time and destiny, urging everyone to support one another rather than engage in public criticism. Maya also requested media channels to act responsibly and verify information before airing it.
Following the growing backlash, Javeria Saud addressed the controversy through her Instagram, issuing a public apology. She admitted that the image in question was used without proper verification and expressed regret over the confusion caused.
In her statement, she maintained that Yumna has always been close to her and that she holds great respect for her work. Clarifying her earlier remark, Javeria explained that her comment had been misinterpreted and was not intended to target anyone’s age, but rather referred to a different context.
Notably, Hania Aamir also amplified the message by reposting Maya Ali’s statement on her Instagram, echoing similar sentiments and reinforcing the call for respect and unity within the entertainment fraternity.
Meanwhile, Nameer Khan also voiced his support by reposting the message and adding a strong note of his own, urging people to show empathy and take pride in their artists rather than pulling them down, both nationally and internationally.
The controversy initially began during an Eid special show, where a segment featured childhood pictures of celebrities for guests to identify. While presenting one such image, Javeria made a remark suggesting that some actors had been working since the “stone age” and had only recently gained recognition.
A guest guessed Yumna Zaidi, prompting laughter across the set, including from Yasir Hussain. The moment quickly went viral, drawing criticism from viewers who found the comment insensitive.
Soon after, Yumna Zaidi stepped forward to clarify that the viral childhood photo was not hers. She termed it “identity-based disinformation” and urged that any information broadcast on national television should be properly verified beforehand.
Her response shifted attention toward the importance of accuracy and responsible content sharing.
