Saad Khan's Obituary
The death of Saad Khan, the reality television contestant who tragically drowned while performing a challenge, has generated much online discussion in Pakistan. Though still not a major story in the news media, the topic has garnered numerous Facebook notes and groups, discussion forums, tweets, and blog posts. Here are the facts – Khan, a 32 year old father of four from Karachi, Pakistan was swimming across a lake with a seven kilogram backpack while filming in Bangkok for a Pakistani promotional TV show for Unilever shampoo. The News reported,
Something went drastically wrong when Khan was in the middle of the stunt. He suddenly turned on his back into a backstroke swimming style, and then, less than a minute later yelled for help. People reportedly began shouting at Khan to remove the backpack, but it was too late – Khan had begun to sink.
At this point, official Unilever statements diverge from other accounts of the incident. According to Fareshte Aslam, the information officer for Unilever Pakistan, “Horrified co-contestants and crew rushed to try to save him [Khan] but could not find him in the murky waters of the lake…Divers later recovered Khan’s body.” However, other sources contend that “no help came for Khan for up to six minutes while he was underwater,” an allegation Unilever has vehemently refuted.
Moreover, although Aslam asserted that all safety measures were taken, adding, “the participants were given the option of wearing life jackets but Saad opted out of it,” Farrukh Khan, a close friend of Saad Khan, provided a different account. On Sunday, he blogged, “She [Aslam] never spoke about the 7 kg bag which was fixed with each participant during this stunt, or the fact that none of the participants wore life jackets and the jackets were NOT mandatory.”
The drowning of Saad Khan is undoubtedly tragic, but his death has raised important issues, particularly related to the reality of reality television. First, who should be held accountable for this incident? Many have pointed the finger at Unilever, who have accepted no liability for the incident, but have noted there are “discussions to provide for Khan’s wife and four children ‘out of rightness.'” Aside from multinational corporations being a conspiratorial anagram for evil, the fact that the company did not publicize the August 19 death until Khan’s body was returned home to Karachi has raised eyebrows. At the same time, if the company did make contestants sign a security waiver, does that absolve them from blame? Should any responsibility be apportioned to the reality television contestants who sign up for such shows?
In the United States, every second program is a reality television show, each more trashy than the next. For television consumers, the era of reality television has fostered a new legion of lazy voyeurs, who receive glimpses into other people’s lives without ever leaving their couch. This oversaturation of “reality” has spilled over into the international arena. American Idol/Pop Idol has spin-offs in most countries, including India and Afghanistan. Programs like, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Outta Here have aired throughout the world, making cringeworthy D-list celebs like “Speidi” household names in even Pakistan.
At the end of the day, reality television exists because there is a continued demand for it. Khan’s tragic incident should therefore not only open debate on who to hold accountable, but also how this television phenomenon should be applied in Pakistan, or if it should be applied at all. Ultimately, more discussion should be dedicated to the reality behind reality television – as Saad Khan’s death so starkly demonstrates.
really tragic event..although I think not publicizing the event until the family has the body is the right thing to do..i think until the family has buried their loved one things shouldn’t be publicized…i am not aware as to any other reasons why they would have done that except out of respect for the families privacy.
I have to agree with that. If the people weren’t aware of the death until the body showed up in Karachi, then that’s a different matter entirely. But what should Unilever be held accountable for?
Well I suppose a full investigation has to be launched. Unilever has to be held accountable if there was any negligence. Again, in a case like this, a lot of the times the families lose out if they go to court. The whole issue of waivers and responsibility usually get the corps off, so settlements are usually the order of the day. And easiest for the family’s sanity and pockets. I don’t know. What do you think? It seems like very little has come out about the details and witnesses etc. Is the host country launching an investigation?
[…] forums, tweets, and blog posts. Here are the facts – […] Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan allegation, backpack, backstroke swimming, discussion forums, farrukh khan, information […]
This really is very sad, and as Sheri pointed out, the family most likely will be the ones to suffer if they take Unilever to court. As filmi as it sounds, money talks in our justice system. Unfortunately, the family might just have to take what they are in fact getting from the company. I hope Unilever at least does right by them monetarily.
I actually think the contract angle of reality television is really interesting – what do people sign off on when they audition for shows like these?
This is what I found on a website discussing reality tv waivers and clauses in the US:
“When you go to an open audition for a reality TV show, you might be surprised at how much paperwork they give you. And given how many people show up and how hectic the atmosphere is, you probably won’t have time to read the fine print. It can be confusing about what exactly you’re giving the producers the permission to do. Reality TV auditions are notorious for the many documents they make you fill out and sign without explaining anything to you. The application packages are lengthy, and include things like basic contact information, health history forms, and essay questions. And of course, these document packages are peppered with permission and waiver forms to sign.”
One of the primary things a production company will do is make sure you sign the medical/safety waivers, absolving the company of any liability in case there is some kind of accident or injury.
This is how when people have been killed in the past (a woman in Bulgaria reportedly died on the country’s version of Survivor, but I was unable to find info on subsequent outrage)
In the case of Unilever, I’m obviously not privy to the contract, but I’m assuming the production company they hired went about things the same way, thus making it hard to hold them accountable for Saad Khan’s death. The question that still remains though – is that does that matter? People will still be outraged, and I think the grassroots response to this incident will put significant pressure on holding Unilever accountable to some extent for the death.
Taking health and safety measures seriously has always been a serious issue in this part of the world. Having worked in the construction industry myself, in Pakistan, most people take health and safety very lightly. Even the simple task of wearing a helmet and proper shoes on the construction site is often overlooked by the majority of workers.
Questions are asked and voices are raised in anger only when an inevitable catastrophe does occur. Hindsight is always 20/20 in this country, and foresight passes through the ears without meeting the brain.
Unfortunately, Saad Khan (may he rest in peace) is the reality of reality television in Pakistan. The production company and sponsors should have taken the utmost care in establishing health and safety for the participants in the show.
If we are so good at copying television show ideas from the west, why can’t we adopt their safety regulations as well?
Answer: Because it increases costs, and we would rather take the risk and leave it all to Allah. And it probably costs less to offer a condolence package to the dependents of the deceased because, after all, this is Pakistan.
I hope Unilever is made to pay through their nose.
Even if you look at seatbelt safety in Pakistan, many people don’t even wear seatbelts when they’re driving!
[…] the show has generated much debate among online and offline communities. Kalsoom at CHUP discusses the reality of the reality TV. Cancel this […]
maria-yeah let’s hope the settlement brings some justice to the situation..if only monetarily..
kalsoom- regarding the woman in bulgaria..well, the show IS CALLED Survivor..and guess what, she didn’t survive..so she lost..ooooooooooooooooh!hahaha sorry had to..
but I think you hit the nail on the head with the whole fine print aspect..i mean most people just skip all that stuff because the language of law is always so confusing to read unless you know the language..ever tried reading a senate bill?i mean they’re different but for the sake of argument..basically the companies producing the shows know that they are covered legally if something were to happen and they were brought to court..i am guessing the contestants pretty much sign off on little to no liability for the producers of the show…sometimes even without knowing it..also, i wonder if they know the extent of the challenges prior to signing the contracts..maybe that is in the contract and people don’t bother to read it..it is interesting actually..
fahd-you’re right on when it comes to applying all these things to pakistan.
even though the family may not chose to indulge in legal wrangling as Unilever appointed mind share who in turn outsourced it to an Indian production company, the pressure by alternative media sources may lead to someone coughing up something.
It is sickening how some people in Pakistan are raising the question of why all the fuss when he knowingly took a risk with his life. I doubt saad khan was briefed that death may be an outcome of this exercise. I do not think anyone deserves to die because of negligence.
It has also now been established, although the companies refuse to make a public statement that there were no life guards present.
In any other country an incident like this would have raised a hell storm and the company would be establishing a trust for the victims family, but our official news sources except for an article in Dawn and one in the news are still mum. Our great tv media which loves displaying gore and gets footage from world hunted fugitives cannot get hold of a copy of the footage to this event. Mind share is the biggest advertising company in Pak, so its anyone’s guess why investigative journalism has come to a halt?
Well one theory is that the spokeswoman from Unilever is married to someone at Geo. Another theory is that Unilever provides sponsorship to a lot of the shows. What do you think?
This is really sad – there’s also an article in Dawn about it – http://blog.dawn.com:91/dblog/2009/08/31/the-reality-of-tv/
Companies seldom make same mistake twice. Reality show unlikely to be repeated. So mourn but don’t think it is changing minds. They must already be changed. This company here for 60 years. Solid and makes good products and employs thousands. Let down by outsiders taken for this show. I too will mourn alone.