Author Chetan Bhagat, who posted an apology on Facebook after an unnamed woman accused him of sexual harassment, today pushed back with another post stressing that “I am not a harasser”. In the post, the author says, “In the garb of the #MeToo movement, which definitely has genuine cases, I am being attacked and vilified.”
Over the weekend, Chetan Bhagat’s name appeared on a Twitter thread where several women were sharing their #MeToo stories. A woman journalist shared a WhatsApp chat on social media after which the best-selling author came up with an apology and “a couple of points about the screenshots”.
In the screenshots shared, Bhagat said “Maybe I was going through a phase, maybe these things just happen, or maybe I felt the person felt the same too based on our conversations (which I don’t need to repeat here). However, it was stupid of me, to feel that way and to even share that with her.”
In today’s post, Bhagat said:“I want you to know that I am suffering because my name is being dragged into needless controversies, and my family and I are being harassed. In the garb of the #MeToo movement, which definitely has genuine cases, I am being attacked and vilified. Let me tell you upfront – I am not a harasser. Never was, never will be.”
The author, in his post, also mentioned how difficult the past few days have been for his family.
{{/usCountry}}The author, in his post, also mentioned how difficult the past few days have been for his family.
{{/usCountry}}“Please bear in mind that baseless allegations like these affect my wife, my 70-year-old mother, my elderly in-laws and my teenage twin sons. Each of them suffer in their own way,” said Bhagat.
Bhagat mentions that “everyone who had a grudge against me (and, you know, plenty do on Twitter) to have a go at me. Kick a man when he is low, classy right?”
He ended his post by saying, “I am going to move on from this and ignore the noise.”