Jawed Habib Apologizes for Spitting on a Woman's Hair, Claims It Was Done With 'Humorous Intent'

After a viral video of celebrity hairstylist Jawed Habib spitting on a woman drew widespread condemnation, the celebrity hairstylist has issued an apologetic statement through video message. He claimed in the video that such things are frequently done with a 'humorous' goal during workshops, but that he was deeply sorry if anyone was upset.

During my seminar, I said certain things that wounded a few people. I just want to clarify that they are professional workshops, meaning that they are attended by experts in our field. We have to make these sessions funny when they grow too long. I'm not sure what to say. If you have been harmed, please accept my heartfelt apologies. In the footage, he can be heard pleading, "Please forgive me, I'm sorry."

The incident occurred in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, at a session organised by Habib. "If there is a scarcity of water, use saliva," Habib says in the video after spitting on a woman's head in front of everyone. "Abbe is thook me jaan hai (Hey, this spit has life)," he says as he walks towards the gathering. Meanwhile, applause and laughter can be heard from the audience.

The National Commission for Women, in response to the video, said on Thursday that it had taken notice of the event and that chairman Rekha Sharma had written to the Uttar Pradesh DGP to examine the matter immediately and take appropriate action. 

"This action also draws breach of Union Home Ministry rules published under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, whereby spitting in public is a serious offence in the wake of the Covid pandemic," NCW chairman Rekha Sharma said.

Meanwhile, Pooja Gupta, the woman in the video, said that Habib summoned her on the stage for a haircut and misbehaved with him. "I attended a seminar of Jaweb Habib sir yesterday," she remarked in a video. He invited me to come up on stage and get a haircut. He was misbehaving. He demonstrated how to use spit instead of water if you don't have any. I was not given a haircut. I'll get a haircut from a street barber, but not from Jawed Habib".