Pakistani actress Ayesha Omar says she had almost married a physically abusive man. Omar in her latest interview revealed that she was engaged and was in a relationship with an abusive man for eight years.
She said that she could not tolerate physical abuse hence she ended up the relationship. The actress said that her life journey is marred by an abusive relationship, living alone, struggling hard, and suffering alone.
“As a child, I was a very bright and cheery person but that all changed as I grew up,” began Omar, detailing her experience of working in showbiz. “The actual trauma I faced was in my teenage years when I moved to another city to work in this industry alone, that was the real game changer. When you’re all alone in a world full of men, the softness in you has to disappear, or you’re taken as weak and they attack you.”
She further added, “I have many friends in the industry who still live with their families, and they are soft. So, a woman can afford to be soft if her family is around because then she is not dealing with men every day all alone.”
She said she became tough to deal with. “I had to deal with all kinds of men alone and that required me to put up a hard front. The thing is, when you keep a distance from people, you are then called ‘difficult’ and ‘arrogant’.
“You’re either a bit*h or an sl**,” explained Omar, highlighting the hypocrisy in society. “If you’re too soft and friendly, especially if you live alone, you are a sl*t, and if you’re reserved, you have labeled the latter. There’s no middle ground.”
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Talking about her relationship she said: “Even after eight years of going back and forth, the relationship was full of physical abuse and so much verbal abuse, so I left,” continued the Tanhai star. “He was so fond of swearing and even told me he cursed at me to show me affection. I mean, I use profanity too while sitting amongst friends, but not for publically demeaning someone.”
Omar then disclosed that she is still in contact with this partner. “I have a cordial relationship with him and consider him family as well. I hope he has resolved his issues, as I understand that every supposedly ‘crazy’ behavior has mental and childhood trauma behind it. Unfortunately, some people just release that trauma in an abusive or physical manner, rather than dealing with it,” she said, adding that it’s also so common to see abuse on television. “It’s okay to slap a woman, even if the hand is touching her, but a kiss is forbidden to show?” Omar remarked.