Recently, Kamal Haasan extended his support to wrestlers who have been protesting against sexual harassment. Athletes like Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia have been holding protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by female athletes.
In a show of solidarity, Kamal Haasan tweeted, “Today marks 1 month of protests by athletes of the wrestling fraternity. Instead of fighting for national glory, we have forced them to fight for personal safety. Fellow Indians, who deserves our attention, our national sporting icons or a politician with an extensive criminal history? I stand with my champions. Wrestler’s protest” (sic).
However, Chimanyi Sripada responded to Kamal’s tweet, aiming to expose what she perceived as his double standards. Sharing her thoughts, she posted, “5 years of a singer in Tamil Nadu being banned for naming a molester right in front of their eyes and not a pip about it since the poet has their respect. How does one trust politicians who speak for women’s safety while they ignore harassment right under their noses? Just. Asking. Now while my timeline will blow up with abuse, shouting, and yelling, I’m gonna exit. Buhbye” (sic). Chinmayi tweeted in response to Kamal Haasan’s tweet.
She further added, “Needless to say there is soooo much anger. So many Kamal Haasan supporters ask me the same survivor-shaming questions that those opposing our Indian wrestlers have said. The playbook to shame women who name powerful molesters is the exact same… I had all the right to question an actor, who is now a politician, to clean up the yard he artistically ruled and make the space safer for women like me to speak up. Not be incarcerated for it. It was a simple ask. My case has been going on and on and on since November 2018 with multiple people from the Film Industry shaming me for speaking up…”