Momina Iqbal breaks silence on fake gender video

Popular Pakistani actress Momina Iqbal has spoken out against a fake, edited video that went viral online, falsely questioning her gender identity. In an emotional and honest interview with Something Haute, the actress called the experience “deeply painful and disturbing.”

The viral clip, which has now been viewed more than 45 million times, was taken from an older interview Momina gave in August 2022. The footage was manipulated and shared out of context, sparking wild rumors on social media, with many users questioning whether she was “really a girl.”

“It Was Bizarre and Confusing”

Momina said she was shocked and distressed when the clip started spreading. “At the time, reporters kept calling me, and I didn’t know how to respond,” she said. Friends and family encouraged her to release a public statement, but the actress admitted she was unsure how to address such a blatantly false claim.

“I thought — should I give out a doctor’s number to prove it? The whole situation was bizarre,” she said.

Momina added that if the rumors were true, she would not have had a problem accepting her reality. “But when it’s completely false, how do you even respond to such lies?”

She powerfully concluded: “Asking a woman to prove her femininity is one of the most painful things she can experience.”

Playing Negative Roles & Facing Online Hate

During the same interview, the Ehd-e-Wafa and Do Kinare star also reflected on her acting journey. She shared that she enjoys playing negative roles, as they offer creative freedom.

“A negative character can say or do anything, which makes it exciting and challenging,” she explained.

However, she also acknowledged that these roles sometimes come at a cost. Citing her role in Do Kinare, Momina revealed that some viewers, especially women, began sending her online abuse, assuming she was just like the character she portrayed.