Atif Aslam does not feel the need to explain his decisions to the world. In a recent interview with journalist Faridoon Shahryar on YouTube show Connect Cine, the singer opened up about the backlash he received over performing just two days after his father’s death.

“I heard people saying that my father passed away and I was still performing the next day,” he said. “They were trying to make their channel run at my expense, making commentary about if I should have gone or not.”

The singer’s father passed away in August. He took the stage at Karachi’s National Stadium for a packed Independence Day concert just two days after. Many praised his professionalism and ability to perform under personal loss. However, the singer received criticism for going ahead with the show despite the circumstances.

Responding to this backlash, Atif said in the interview, “My job is not to tell the haters not to do it. I can’t build a relationship with the whole world. I can't explain to each and every person what my circumstances were. My job is to make art. Like me for my art, hate me for my music. Don’t tell me what to do.”