Celebrities who made insensitive comments on rape and rape victims faced the ire of media and fans alike. Below is a list of some of them.
Salman Khan, sparked an uproar by saying his demanding training schedule for an upcoming film left him feeling “like a raped woman”. The controversial comment was made during a media interview to promote his latest film ‘Sultan’.
However, these sort of crude remarks by celebrities is not a new thing and in fact is a global phenomenon, showing us that we have a long way to go before people realise that rape is a very real crime against women – not a joke in any way.
Defending his brother, Arbaaz Khan yet again had the tempers soaring when he said, “There are certain things which we say while talking and it is important to see the intention with which it was said. There is no doubt that whatever Salman said, the intention was not wrong. It was a comparison quite akin to saying there was a huge mountain in my shoulder or I work like a donkey. If Salman feels the need he will apologize.”
Source – movies.ndtv.com
Dev, a well known and popular Bengali movie star was giving interviews while contesting for elections. When asked how he felt about joining politics, he responded “Enjoy… It’s just like being raped. You can shout or you can enjoy.”
Source – timesofindia.indiatimes.com
In an interview with the publication – Vanity Fair in 2011, the international heartthrob, Depp said, “Well, you just feel like you’re being raped somehow. Raped … It feels like, kind of weird — just weird, man. [I’ll pose with fans], but whenever you have a photo shoot or something like that, it’s like — you just feel dumb. It’s just so stupid.” This comment had not gone down well with his female fans, who had found it to be absurd and insensitive.
Source – india.com
While performing in a popular joint American comedian, Daniel Tosh was told off by a female fan after saying that rape jokes are always funny. The woman responded that they were not, Tosh reportedly said,“Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by, like, five guys right now? Like right now?”
His comment was offensive and irresponsible. As a performer and a celebrity how could he have passed such a remark? He should have been careful about what he described as funny.
Source – concertfix.com
While riding high on her ‘Twilight’ series, Kristen Stewart in a media interview had likened fame to rape. Her exact words were, “What you don’t see are the cameras shoved in my face and the bizarre intrusive questions being asked, or the people falling over themselves, screaming and taunting to get a reaction. The photos are so… I feel like I’m looking at someone being raped. A lot of the time I can’t handle it.” She had faced the ire of the public on making such a comment.
Source – moviespilot.com
These are just a few examples of how at times celebrities undersestimate the power of their words and how it could hurt sentiments.
Considering that they are youth icons they can be a lot more responsible and careful when speaking to the media. I’m hoping that in the future Indian celebrities would be more cautious while expressing themselves, and avoid making light of an issue that is very real to women.
Featured Pic Source – ibtimes.co.uk
My first book - Second Chances has just released and is present on all online book stores. Do pick up a copy to read about the adventures of a novice ghost. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, indivisual posts do not necessarily represent the platofrom's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Falling in love, marriage, a hidden secret, divorce. Despite all this, Vinita noticed her life was full of love that came in various unexpected shades!
“Aap jinke kareeb hotey hain, woh badey kush naseeb hotey hain…”
Just as Vinita was settling down into the cab seat, the driver put on music and the song started to play. It took her back immediately to that evening ten years ago, when Gautam had sung that very same song to her on the first evening they had met. She could remember every single detail of that evening so very clearly.
The driver obliged and immediately stopped the bus for them. Many men got down. They shamelessly lined up just by the side of the bus and peed on the other side of the road.
I work in Pune. My family lives far away from me in a small town along the coast of Konkan. I get to meet them once every fortnight for which I have to take a nine-hour long overnight bus journey.
In a country where rape videos are easily available as porn for sale at Rs 10 at roadside shops, a show like GoT pandering to the male gaze seriously affects mindsets.
Films have constantly influenced many things in India right from language to fashion to behavior. In 2015, Sandesh Baliga, an Indian man, was acquitted by the courts of Australia of the charges of stalking 2 women as he pleaded ‘not guilty’ stating that he belonged to a remote town in India and that Bollywood was responsible for influencing his behavior since it’s a norm to stalk non-consenting women in it. It was only after the 2012 gang-rape when angry students marched through the national capital that finally Bollywood came under the spot-light after decades.
Salman Khan keeps dragging Priyanka Chopra’s name whenever Bharat comes up, indictaing that he hasn’t taken her rejection lightly. Not surprising, given that he is the poster boy for toxic masculinity.
One of those ‘open secrets’ that everyone knows about Bollywood is that you don’t mess with ‘bhai’. He doesn’t take rejection well, and may try (and succeed) to sabotage your career. Perhaps, it is his inability to ‘get back’ at Priyanka by influencing her career that is prompting Salman Khan to take verbal digs at her constantly for stepping out of his upcoming movie, Bharat.