Women’s panel sends notice to actor Vivek Oberoi over ‘misogynistic’ tweet on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

The National Commission for Women sent a notice to actor Vivek Oberoi on Monday for sharing an “insulting” and “misogynistic” meme on Twitter, likening the Lok Sabha poll results to actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s personal life

The National Commission for Women (NCW) sent a notice to actor Vivek Oberoi on Monday for sharing an “insulting” and “misogynistic” meme on Twitter, likening the Lok Sabha poll results to actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s personal life.

Actor Vivek Oberoi (HT)

The meme, a collage of three images, termed a picture of actor Salman Khan and Rai Bachchan the ‘opinion poll’; Oberoi and Rai Bachchan the ‘exit poll’; and one with husband Abhishek Bachchan and daughter Aaradhya the ‘final result’. Crediting the meme to one @pavansingh1985, Oberoi tweeted it with a caption: “Haha! creative! No politics here... just life”. The NCW has sought an explanation from the actor for the “extremely offensive and unethical post that shows disrespect towards the dignity and respect of women in general”. Rekha Sharma, NCW chairperson, said, “We would like him to apologise on social media and personally to the person concerned. If he doesn’t, we will see what legal action can be taken. We will talk to Twitter to remove the tweet.”

Oberoi, however, told ANI: “People are asking me to apologise. I have no problem in apologising, but tell me what wrong have I done. If I have done something wrong, I will apologise. I don’t think I have done anything wrong. What’s wrong in it? Somebody tweeted a meme and I laughed at it.”

“Those who are in the meme have no objection, while scores of politicians are trying to politicise the issue. They don’t work on issues but start their politics on such non-issues…” said the actor, who is starring in the movie ‘PM Narendra Modi’.

The NCW’s notice to the actor read: “You have made an insulting and misogynistic post on Twitter carrying a picture of a minor girl and a woman. It has been reported that you had drawn a sly comparison between the poll result and a woman’s personal life.”

The post drew strong reactions from activists, actors, politicians and social media users.

“It is hardly hilarious. It’s crass, disgusting and reveals the sick mentality of its ‘creator’ @vivekoberoi. Evident that the man lacks everything – political as well as life skills,” tweeted Swati Maliwal, chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women.

Vijaya Rahatkar, chairperson of the Maharashtra Women’s Commission, said they will send a notice to the actor for his tweet. “What he has tweeted cannot be considered ‘creativity’... He is a responsible actor and we did not expect this behaviour from him,” Rahatkar tweeted.

“Disgusting and classless,” tweeted actor Sonam Kapoor Ahuja.

Urmila Matondkar, a Congress candidate from Mumbai North, called out the actor for not having the courtesy of pulling down the tweet despite widespread criticism. “Very disgraceful and in extreme bad taste of #VivekOberoi to put up such a disrespectful post. At least show the decency to pull off the post if [you are] not apologising to the lady and her little girl (sic),” Matondkar tweeted.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters in Bollywood are crossing all limits of dignity. Vivek Oberoi has insulted a Padma Shri awardee. He should apologise. If he does not, he will have to bear its consequences.”

The 42-year-old actor, who is married to Priyanka Alva and has two children, reacted to Sonam’s tweet. “I personally feel that she should less overact in her films and should not overreact on social media… Sometimes people do such things to look cool. I want to ask Sonam how much she has worked on women empowerment,” he said.