The Indian actress found herself at the centre of controversy amidst mounting criticism for her perceived silence on the ongoing crisis in Gaza.Like several other Hollywood stars, Alia has allegedly been accused of being ‘complicit’ for her inaction amidst the ongoing crisis.
The ‘Blockout 2024’ movement, which gained traction on TikTok, has seen several social media users ‘blocking’ celebrities who they believe have remained indifferent to the plight of the people of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Celebrities including Taylor Swift, Nick Jonas, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and over 100 others have been added to the list which has been growing longer by the day. Social media users have been passing along the list along with links to celebrity handles who attended highly publicised events, but stayed mum on the pressing humanitarian issue.
A similar post was also shared on a reddit handle BollyBlindsNGossip.
For months, pro-Palestinian activists have flooded social media platforms, imploring stars to use their influence to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza. The glitzy Met Gala, which saw A-list celebrities from various spheres of entertainment, became a focal point for the frustration with many social media users linking the gala to the Hollywood movie ‘Hunger Games’.
Even attempts to address fan demands have proved risky. Rapper Lizzo’s promotion of a fundraiser to aid a doctor in Gaza, faced criticism for alleged ‘opportunism’.