TikTok influencer Faizal Siddiqui's video was taken down by the video-sharing app on Monday for 'glorifying' acid attack on women. The move came after the National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma wrote to the DGP of Maharashtra Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, demanding action against the same. Sharma condemned the video of the digital content creator for "promoting the grievous crime of acid attack on social media". The aforementioned video, which has now been taken down, showed Faizal threatening a girl for leaving him for another guy. He then threw water on her face. The next scene showed the girl's face, covered with heavy makeup, interpreted as bruises and damage done by the 'acid'.
Screenshots from the video created by Faizal Siddiqui.
BJP politician Tajinder Bagga shared the viral clip on Twitter and tagged NCW chief Rekha Sharma to bring the matter to her notice. She responded saying that she would take up the matter with both the police and TikTok.
Meanwhile, Faizal Siddiqui, who has over 13.4 million followers on TikTok, issued a statement on Instagram and said that his intention was not to hurt anyone in any capacity. "As a social media influencer, I realise my responsibility and apologise to anyone who was offended by the video," he wrote.
He also said that the first part of the clip in which he was seen drinking the water from glass was cut from the original video and was circulated on social media. "Acid kaun peeta hai," he wrote. He also shared the full video.
Faizal Siddiqui is the brother of Amir Siddiqui, who was recently embroiled in a controversy after he posted a video comparing content creators on TikTok and YouTube. Amir had tagged several YouTubers in the clip, after which YouTuber CarryMinati posted a roast video. CarryMinati's video was removed by YouTube and it led to a furore among his fans.