Apple TV+ launches new Muslim drama so why aren't people happy?

The Apple TV+ drama ‘Hala’ is produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and will be streamed on December 6.

It is described as ‘a coming-of-age drama that focuses on a teenage Muslim girl who navigates the discordant worlds of a traditional household and a modern high school in Chicago’.

The lead role is played by Geraldine Viswanathan and in the trailer she discusses the difficulty she finds trying to fit in, as clips show her interfacing with her non-Muslim love interest, skateboarding, and fighting with her family.

But people have quickly lambasted Apple+ for perpetuating familiar stereotypes about Muslim women.

This is not an appropriate series at all. As a Muslim woman who wears a hijab, this is NOT the reality. The majority of us don’t feel like we are hidden away nor do we feel the need to be ‘freed’ by a white boy. Reconsider this. This is not the representation we want.

— سلسبيل (@SalsabelAbuazza) November 5, 2019

Wow a story about a muslim woman who rebels against her culture and religion because she likes a white boy from her science class!!!!!!! Never heard that one before!!!!!1!!1!1!1!1!1!!

— m (@miitosis) November 5, 2019

When is western media going to realize that not all Muslim girls wear hijabs and/or are oppressed by their parents

— Areesha✨🥀 (@areesha_mian) November 5, 2019

This is a terrible way to represent my hijab and my religion. For how long are they gonna keep thinking of something this beautiful such as hijab as something that’s an obstacle for me. WTF

— Labiba🥀🇨🇦🇧🇩 (@blackliliessss) November 6, 2019

Can we Muslims just have 1 regular movie pls?
Apple you should have known better.

This is why I'm on Android https://t.co/E9Ur2kjFuR

— Islah (@MistahIslah) November 6, 2019