28th May 2023,Mumbai: Renowned actor Kamal Haasan finds himself in hot water as singer Chinmayi Sripada criticizes him for supporting the wrestlers’ protest while remaining silent on her Me Too allegations. Previously, Chinmayi had accused lyricist Vairamuthu of sexually abusing her, raising questions about the credibility of public figures who claim to champion women’s safety while turning a blind eye to harassment right in front of them.
Kamal Haasan took to Twitter to voice his support for the wrestlers’ objections, prompting Chinmayi to respond, “For five years, a singer in Tamil Nadu has been banned for calling out a molester right in front of their eyes, and not a peep about it because the poet has their respect. How can we believe politicians who claim to care about women’s protection while ignoring harassment that happens right in front of them? Just asking. Now that my timeline is about to explode with abuse, shouting, and yelling, I’m going to exit. Buhbye!”
Chinmayi faced backlash from Kamal Haasan’s followers on Twitter after her remarks. She continued to engage with tweets questioning her decision to criticize Kamal Haasan. In a subsequent tweet, she acknowledged the immense anger surrounding the issue. She pointed out that she receives similar questions from Kamal Haasan’s supporters as those against Indian wrestlers, using labels such as “rape apologist” and “survivor shaming.” This strategy, she highlighted, is often employed to discredit women who expose influential perpetrators. Chinmayi further asserted that the DMK, BJP, and MNM (political parties) are all alike in this regard, differing only in their rhetoric.
-by Kashvi Gala