Kerala Actor-MP Thinks Casting Couch Only Exists Because ‘Bad Women Share Bed’ *Slow Claps*

kerala mp

It is not rare for people in power to take undue advantage of their position. Be it physically with actions or verbally, with words louder than actions, the who’s who somehow manage to surprise us every time (even with the kind of re-occurrences).

Correct me if I’m wrong, but it stands extremely true in the cases of politicians who probably do not think before making generic (read: stereotypical/sexist) statements. Yes, there is another addition to the existing bandwagon and I don’t know where to begin from.

Kerala actor, MP and Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) chief, Innocent Vareed Thekkethala recently addressed the media about casting couch in the Malayalam film industry and made some really unwarranted statements. 

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“The Malayalam film industry is clean now and no such thing as casting couch exists in the industry… It is not like the yesteryear. The moment you make an imprudent request to a woman in this day and age, it will be shared with people like you (media). They will speak about it openly.”

 

He not only denied the existence of the prevalent evil and parity in the showbiz but went on to add that,

“But if the women are bad, they may share the bed.”

And yes, he is popularly known as Innocent.

The entire charade initiated when the last press conference held by the AMMA didn’t welcome any questions directed at the board about the Kerala actress’ abduction-molestation and about the stand AMMA took in the matter.

 

Naturally, the MP’s comments have drawn flak and opposition by various women activists including Women in Cinema Collective (WWC) who took to Facebook to lambast him. 

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“New artists face several forms of sexual abuse while entering the film industry. Even our colleagues like Parvathy and Lakshmi Rai, have spoken about casting couch openly… We cannot accept the statement that the film industry is free from all kinds of sexual exploitation and there should be cautiousness in making statements in public.”

 

The WCC is led by Malayalam actress, Manju Warrier.

Translated by NDTV. The post was originally published in Malayalam.

The actor since then has taken to Facebook to clarify his stance but the damage is done. How long will politicians make headlines (for the wrong reasons), only to apologise later! How long before they gauge the intensity or the repercussions of their words? How long?

News Source: India Today

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