Table No 5 is a restaurant that opened up recently in Islamabad. It has been the target of a lot of well placed criticism.

Here is one of the reasons

Table No 5
Table No 5

The restaurant boasts of a variety of dishes named after notorious celebrities who have been convicted of either sexual harassment or abuse. Apparently, this is okay.

Table No 5
Table No 5

The restaurant also uses a bunch of other sexist statements to promote their brand

Because that’s what food needs in order to be sold – sexism and misogyny.

Table No 5
Table No 5
Table No 5
Table No 5
Table No 5
Table No 5

Someone needs to inform every other restaurant chain that they’ve been doing it wrong all along.

They decided to rope in Imran Khan with this distasteful post

Because it’s okay to joke about someone’s divorce.

Table No 5
Table No 5

People have spoken out against this, but Table No 5 chose to respond the same way the chose to advertise their brand.

The restaurant’s initial response was infuriating

Table No 5
Table No 5
Table No 5
Table No 5

It’s borderline sad and pretty damn ridiculous that it’s 2015 and we have to talk about sexism being promoted shamelessly in our capital city. It’s a lot sadder that people have called out people speaking against it, saying it’s all good fun.

Here’s a bunch of reasons why this is not okay:

It shows a lack of respect

No, I’m not talking about you respecting women because they’re mothers and sisters. Let’s just establish the fact that they’re human beings, alright? They don’t need to be associated with men to have their existence validated. There is nothing funny about being disrespectful.

And no, women do not need to lighten up and take it as a joke.

It mocks an actual problem

Sexism is real and it’s an actual problem. There is no ‘good fun’ in mocking years of oppression and the current plight of numerous women scattered around the globe. Not only that, the support that Table No 5 has received is alarming, because there are actual people out there who think sexism is okay. That’s terrifying.

It glorifies assholes

If you’re going to name your food after sexual offenders and abusive douchebags, you might as well put up a sign outside your restaurant saying rape is okay. All in good fun, right? Hilarious.

It sends out the wrong message globally

Table No 5 has been talked about on numerous websites. The ‘humor’ is being rubbished and while the restaurant is being criticized, it gives people yet another reason to point fingers at Pakistan. Brandon did not haul his ass down here with a camera just so that you guys could screw it all up with a menu.

That being said, Table No 5 offered their version of an apology.

Table No 5
Table No 5

If it helps, that is.

The sincerity of their apology is questionable. However, there is no second guessing the fact that using offensive tactics to promote a brand is not okay. Using a rampant problem as a crutch and calling it humor does not fix the fact that it’s wrong. Instead of criticising people standing up to Table No 5 as butthurt feminazis, at least try and understand the reason behind their concern.

Some things are not meant to be joked about. This is one of those things.