Zahirah Macwilson Sparks Heated Debate After Calling Christmas, Easter & Halloween "Strange", Later Apologises

Malaysian actress and model Zahirah Macwilson recently came under scrutiny after an Instagram Story post sparked debate among Malaysians.

Zahirah shared a photo of a large skeleton display, believed to be a Halloween decoration. However, it was the caption accompanying the image that drew widespread attention.

Image Credit: @zahirahmacwilson | Instagram

"The most ridiculous celebration, in my opinion. I stayed overseas for 20 years and never understood this event. They really go all out for this, huh? Christmas, Easter, Halloween, all are strange. All involve kids dressing up, asking for candy or chocolate, sitting on old men's laps, worshipping some demonic/satanic/supernatural character or death."

Some came to her defence, while others criticised her remarks

The post quickly sparked backlash online, particularly from Christians who celebrate Christmas and Easter. Some social media users described the remarks as insensitive and disrespectful.

Image Credit: Threads

One user responded by explaining the significance of Christmas and Easter in Christianity.

"Please understand that Malaysia is a multicultural society, and some Malaysians celebrate Christmas and Easter. Perhaps you were referring only to elements such as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny."

They added, "But Christmas is also about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians do not worship Santa Claus. Rather, he is seen as a symbol of joy, generosity and giving, especially to those in need."

The user also explained that Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and noted that many Catholics observe a period of fasting during Lent, somewhat similar to Ramadan, although the practices differ.

Others criticised Zahirah for what they saw as a misunderstanding of the religious celebrations she mentioned.

"Twenty years living overseas, yet still not knowing that Halloween is not a Christian celebration. Maybe some Christians celebrate Halloween because it has become part of the local culture, but Christians do not worship demonic characters during Christmas or Easter," said another user.

Image Credit: Threads

However, some users came to Zahirah's defence, suggesting that her comments may have been directed at Muslims who participate in such festivities despite certain religious views discouraging the practice.

She has since apologised and deleted the post

Following the backlash, Zahirah issued a public apology, saying it was never her intention to offend or hurt anyone's religious beliefs. She also removed the Instagram Story in question.

Image Credit: @zahirahmacwilson | Instagram

Following the backlash, Zahirah took to Instagram once again to issue a more detailed public apology through a video lasting over two minutes.

In the emotional video, the actress admitted that her earlier remarks were inappropriate and acknowledged that she had mistakenly grouped Halloween, Christmas and Easter together in a single post despite the celebrations having different cultural and religious backgrounds.

Holding back tears throughout the video, Zahirah stressed that she never intended to describe Christmas and Easter, which are considered sacred by Christians, as celebrations associated with satanic or demonic worship.

"I would like to offer my sincerest and most unconditional apology, especially to the Christian community who felt offended and hurt by the post. I carelessly grouped those three separate celebrations together in one post. I want to make it absolutely clear that I never intended to label celebrations such as Christmas and Easter as satanic or related to devil worship. I have the utmost respect for the diversity of cultures, religions and beliefs that make our society so beautiful."

The actress admitted that she should have been more careful when expressing her views, particularly on matters involving religion and tradition.

"As a public figure, I should be more mindful of everything I say, especially when it touches on issues of religion and tradition. I take full responsibility for what I said, and I sincerely apologise for my ignorance," she shared.

Zahirah also thanked those who reached out to share their views, whether positive or negative, and said she would continue to learn from the incident and reflect on ways to become a better person.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram, Threads