During a meet-and-greet in Houston, Texas, a fan apparently tried to hug the 'Load Wedding' actor from behind, unbeknownst to her. The incident came to light after a fan page shared a video of the exchange on social media.
Hayat said she hadn't realized the fan was trying to force a hug, but thanked her friend and male ally Rehan for 'literally having her back' and calling him a 'true gentleman'
"Some people need to learn manners of meet-and-greet when around women" Rehan wrote on his social media page about the incident.
Although it is unclear what the fan's intentions were, the incident highlighted the inappropriateness of touching or hugging without consent - and the need for men to step in when women are being manhandled or accosted in public.
Unwanted touching is not just an issue between men and women. Actor Ushna Shah shared an experience about an unknown woman touching her hair at the mall. "Is the concept of wanting personal space from strangers so foreign that it falls in the realms of batameezi?" she questioned.
https://twitter.com/ushnashah/status/1500500159397961731
The incident, which took place in the United States, also highlights that sexual assault and harassment are not just problems in Pakistan.