Kapanlagi.com - After being out of the public eye for a while due to his controversial joke about the iced tea seller, Gus Miftah finally reappeared to give a lecture. However, his presence this time did not evoke sympathy, but rather reignited debates online. In his lecture, he reflected on the incident that was widely discussed in early December 2024, but instead of gaining support, he heated up the atmosphere even more.
A video of his lecture uploaded by the X account (formerly Twitter) @WagimanDeep212_ on January 24, 2025, went viral on social media again. In the clip, Gus Miftah touched on the old incident and discussed its impact on KH Usman Ali, his colleague who was also involved in the laughter in that controversial video. Sharp comments from netizens flooded in, with many feeling that Gus Miftah seemed "not to learn from experience".
Although he had previously apologized to the public through an official video, his latest lecture attracted attention and sharp criticism once again. Many netizens considered his remarks to come off as arrogant, adding to the scrutiny of his personality and attitude. Check out the complete information summarized by Kapanlagi.com on Tuesday (28/1).
1. A Flashback to When Gus Miftah Insulted an Iced Tea Seller and Went Viral
Gus Miftah recently came under public scrutiny after his viral sermon video sparked controversy. In the recording, he made a joke that was deemed disrespectful to an iced tea seller, inciting outrage among netizens on various social media platforms.
"Do you still have a lot of iced tea? Still? Well, sell it then, Go***," said Gus Miftah.
In response to the criticism, Gus Miftah publicly apologized after his remarks spread everywhere. "Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, I am Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman, responding to what has gone viral today, first of all, with humility I apologize for my mistake," he said in a video, quoted from ANTARA.
Afterward, he also promised to be more careful when speaking in public. The apology was accepted by some members of the community, but many remained skeptical about the sincerity of his words.
2. Latest Lecture Sparks Strong Reactions from Netizens
On January 24, 2025, Gus Miftah once again captured attention with his lecture discussing a viral incident that caused a stir. On this occasion, he took a jab at KH Usman Ali, who was forced to lose more than 40 of his lecture schedules just because of his infectious laughter captured in a controversial video.
"Don't laugh, or else if you laugh it goes viral. Like Kiai Usman, poor him. Yes, because of his laughter, he lost 40 (lecture) schedules," he joked while mimicking KH Usman Ali's laughter style, as recorded in the video uploaded by the X account @WagimanDeep212_.
Unsurprisingly, his remarks received strong reactions from netizens who felt that Gus Miftah did not yet understand the impact of his behavior. One comment even stated that a person's character cannot be changed no matter how long, aimed at mocking the figure from Yogyakarta.
“How is this person still relevant?” wrote one netizen. Another commented, “Back to factory settings, huh? Character really can't be changed.” Such sentiments indicate that Gus Miftah is still struggling to restore his image.
The video of Gus Miftah's lecture uploaded by the account @WagimanDeep212_ on X also went viral and received criticism
3. Official Apology from Gus Miftah
In December 2024, Gus Miftah expressed deep regret through social media, acknowledging his mistake that sparked public uproar.
"I also apologize to the public for my joke that was deemed excessive," he stated. He also mentioned that he had received a reprimand from government officials to be more careful in delivering speeches.
Shortly after that, he received a warning from government officials to be more cautious in his speech. As a result, Gus Miftah took the bold step of resigning from his position as the Special Envoy of the President for Religious Harmony and Religious Facilities Development.
"After praying, reflecting, and performing istikharah, I decided to resign from my duties as the Special Envoy of the President for Religious Harmony and Religious Facilities Development," Miftah said during his resignation announcement in front of reporters.
4. Why is Gus Miftah being criticized by netizens?
Gus Miftah is being criticized for insulting a tea seller during his sermon, which is considered degrading.
5. Has Gus Miftah apologized?
Yes, he publicly apologized in December 2024 through a video uploaded to social media.
6. What is the impact of this case on Gus Miftah's career?
This case has tarnished his image, and he faces sharp criticism from the public.
7. What is the latest lecture content from Gus Miftah?
In his latest lecture, he discusses an old incident and touches on its impact on his colleague, KH Usman Ali.
(kpl/rmt)
Disclaimer: This translation from Bahasa Indonesia to English has been generated by Artificial Intelligence.