‘I like to make men uncomfortable’: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy faces backlash over controversial statement

The Oscar-winning Pakistani filmmaker, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy sparked controversy for her feminist comments in relation to her latest Hollywood project, 'Star Wars.' Critics in the West expressed discontent over her statement by sharing a snippet from one of her previous interviews.

A short video clip circulating on social media shows Sharmeen Obaid, the director of the next Star Wars film addressing a question by the program host who asked her how she aims to dismantle the patriarchal power structures through her art. 

"What is the balance of activating a force for change but also trying to permeate that patriarchy, that power structure, and is that a part of the calculation of your art as well? And what's been the reaction to that?” the host asked.

In response, she uttered some controversial remarks that triggered a backlash on social media.

“I like to make men uncomfortable, I enjoy making men uncomfortable,” she said.

She emphasised that she wants to make men realise about their thoughts and actions towards women, prompting them to actively rectify their demeanour and acknowledge the presence and contributions of women as their equals.

The '3 Bahadur' director and producer maintianed, “It is important to be able to look into the eyes of a man and say I’m here and recognise that. Recognise that I am working to bring something that makes you uncomfortable and it should make you uncomfortable because you need to change your attitude and it’s only when you are uncomfortable, when you are shift, when you have to have difficult conversations that you will perhaps look into the mirror and not like the reflection and think that may be there’s something wrong with me with the way I think or maybe there’s something wrong with the way i am addressing this issue.“

The interview which recently surfaced only is from eight years ago.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy: I like to make men uncomfortable

American right-wing political commentator, Matt Walsh took to micro-blogging site ‘X’ and shared a clip from Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy's interview, criticising her remarks.

“Here’s the feminist director of the next Star Wars film saying that her goal is to “make men uncomfortable.” This movie is destined to be Disney’s biggest flop yet,” Walsh’s post read.

Here’s the feminist director of the next Star Wars film saying that her goal is to “make men uncomfortable.”

This movie is destined to be Disney’s biggest flop yet. pic.twitter.com/KaihbiA7Oj

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 3, 2024

Some blamed her statement for the potential failure of the Star Wars film.

Remember everyone, Rian Johnson killed the Star Wars franchise in 2017, but Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is also about to kill the franchise in 2026, which therefore means it wasn't killed in 2017 but actually it was but it wasn't because now I'm mad about a slightly different thing I w pic.twitter.com/2kKvOfQpmK

— BombadilsBoot (@Bombadilsboot) January 4, 2024

Several social media users also stepped forward to clarify her remarks, explaining how critics had distorted their meaning by taking them out of context.

This is Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. She’s the director for the new Star Wars movie.

Many people on the right are urging folks to boycott her film because of recent comments she made about wanting her work to make men uncomfortable.

Here’s the deal: The woman has spent the majority… pic.twitter.com/WpyRqadSAp

— Kaeley Triller (@KaeleyT) January 4, 2024