After Laxmi Manchu, it was, actress Gouri Kishan who called out a journalist for body shaming, going as far as to call him a “disgrace” to his profession. Significantly none of her colleagues on stage or the journalists present at the event, came forward to support her.
Gouri also issued a press statement about the incident. “As a public figure, I understand that scrutiny is part of my profession. However, comments or questions—direct or indirect—that target a person’s body or appearance are inappropriate in any context. I wish I had been asked questions about the film—the work I was there for. I cannot help but wonder if they would ask a male actor the same, in the same aggressive tone. I am grateful for being able to stand my ground in a difficult situation. It was important not only for myself but for anyone who has faced the same. This is not new but still prevalent—normalising body-shaming in jest while perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards. I hope this will be a reminder to anyone who has felt this way that we are allowed to speak up. We are allowed to express our discomfort, question when wronged, and work towards stopping this cycle.”
When contacted actor Vishal Krishna supported Gouri Kishan. “It’s a long pending issue and I have raised this issue quite a few times with these so-called journalists. They are not journalists but are allowed into a press meet and they ask irrelevant questions. I have faced a similar problem and the best way is to ignore them. Silence is the best way. No retaliation. Waste of time. The PRs have to buck up and monitor and scrutinise press people who attend.Journalists sometimes come to press events with the express purpose of asking provocative questions. This must stop. Press meets are not an occasion for asking inappropriate questions.If you enjoy women being insulted then you are no less misogynist than the person talking rubbish about a woman.”
