Old video of TikTok user Shadab Khan falsely shared as him showing how to spread coronavirus

A video of TikTok user Shadab Khan, inarguably repulsive, has been widely shared on social media platforms. Twitter user Deepak Khandwal shared the clip stating, “Shabad Khan has 11 million followers on TikTok and he is promoting how to spread coronavirus. (#शादाब_खान के टिकटोक पर 11 मिलियन से ज्यादा फॉलोवर हैं, और ये प्रमोट क्या कर रहा है कि #कोरोना_वायरस को कैसे फैलाना है.)”

#शादाब_खान के टिकटोक पर 11 मिलियन से ज्यादा फॉलोवर हैं, और ये प्रमोट क्या कर रहा है कि #कोरोना_वायरस को कैसे फैलाना है, ऐसी वीडियो से टिकटोक भरा पड़ा है, कृपया मामला दर्ज किया जाए। @DelhiPolice @CPDelhi @dgpup @Ashokkumarips@MumbaiPolice @Uppolice @narendramodi @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/c7fBSrKOnw

— DEEPAK KANDWAL (@deepakkandwaluk) April 17, 2020

Twitter user BALA @erbmjha was among the first to share the video where Khan can be seen filling his palm with spittle and shaking a woman’s hand. BALA is followed by Prime Minister Modi on Twitter.

Shadab Khan, He has 11.8 M Followers on Tik tok. Promoting this shameful act! How disgusting one can be?

His tik tok account needs to get suspended.

Pls RT & look into it @MumbaiPolice @Rajput_Ramesh pic.twitter.com/endM77ajDY

— BALA (@erbmjha) April 16, 2020

Spokesperson of BJYM Telangana Roop Darak and Twitter user @Brahmeme also tweeted the video.

The clip is viral on Facebook. From the pages Expose The Deshdrohis and Modi Once More it has garnered thousands of views. It has drawn 25,000 views from the account of one Ranveer Gupta who identifies as a youth worker in the BJP, a swayamsevak at the RSS and an ABVP activist.

Unrelated to coronavirus

A rummage through Sadab Khan’s TikTok profile revealed that the video was created on February 6, 2020, weeks before coronavirus either became a part of the national discourse or was declared a health emergency in India.

The date has also been highlighted in the video below.

 

Khan has made several videos related to coronavirus. Below is a TikTok video where he is advising people to stay at home.

While Khan has uploaded videos in the past that are distasteful and/ or sexist, an old video has been cherry-picked from his profile and is being shared as if he is promoting the act of spitting in the middle of a pandemic. TikTok is hardly a virtuous place. The platform is replete with people sharing misogynistic videos, and clips that sometimes promote violence. One can disagree with problematic views but to share them as a show of righteousness, when the real motive is to target the Muslim community, is a deliberate act of spreading disinformation.