Actor turned host Ahsan Khan has finally responded to the criticism he is facing for using animals as a prop on his talk show named ‘Time Out with Ahsan Khan’.
He opened up about the controversy surrounding him and spoke in an interview that these animals are just pets. “Let me clarify. These rabbits are basically pets and the person who owns them brings them to the set,” explained Ahsan.
He continued that these animals are pets and are well-fed and taken care of. They are not uncomfortable at all and the man whose pets they are keeping them indoors,” he asserted.
According to Khan, these animals are very easy to play with. Khan further went onto share the segment has been inspired by the Hop Quiz on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The actor then revealed that he himself is a pet-owner. “Being a pet lover I am very careful with the animals on set and cares for them. “I myself am a pet lover,” said Ahsan by adding that he has dogs at home. “I also have parrots and hens and they are all like my own children.”
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He also highlighted if using animals as props then he and his producer have decided to avoid it. “My producer and I thought that if this is hurting people and they are not liking it, then we can avoid it. So we have cut out the segment in the last three to four episodes we’ve recorded,” stated Ahsan.
It is to be noted that the male guests usually enjoy petting the animals but the female guests are scared of them and often jump around screaming when asked to hold them. Earlier, a complaint was filed by a Lahore-based law firm against the channel and the show for using animals as props.
As per the complaint, the TV show subjected a sentient living being, an animal, to unnecessary suffering is not only an offense under the law but a breach of the constitutionally guaranteed right to life under Art.
