After receiving backlash for his “rude joke” in response to a tweet from badminton player Saina Nehwal, actor Siddharth released a public apology on Tuesday.
In an apology letter posted on Twitter, Siddharth wrote,”Dear Saina, I want to apologise to you for my rude joke that I wrote as a response to a tweet of yours a few days ago. I may disagree with you on many things, but even my disappointment or anger when I read your tweet, cannot justify my tone and words. I know I have more grace in me than that. As for the jokeif a joke needs to be explained, then it wasn’t a very good joke to begin with. Sorry about a joke that didn’t land.”
“I, however, must insist my word play and humour had none of the malicious intent that so many people from all quarters have attributed to it. I am a staunch feminist ally and I assure there was no gender implied in my tweet and certainly no intent to attack you as a woman. I hope we can put this behind us and that you will accept my letter. You will always be my Champion. Honestly, Siddharth,” it added.
This comes after numerous netizens and celebrities chastised the Tamil-Telugu actor for his “crass” language. Siddharth has been under fire for a tweet he sent in response to Saina Nehwal’s tweet on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security failure during his visit to Ferozepur, Punjab, on January 5.
He defended his post, though, claiming that nothing derogatory was meant, spoken, or implied.
Saina Nehwal turned to Twitter last week to express her feelings on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach. She wrote, “No Nation can claim itself to be safe if the security of its own PM gets compromised. I condemn, in the strongest words possible, the cowardly attack on PM Modi by anarchists (sic).”
To this, Siddharth quoted Saina’s tweet and wrote, “Subtle cock champion of the world… Thank God we have protectors of India. Shame on you #Rihanna (sic).”
After receiving widespread criticism for his remarks, which were found to be laced with sexual innuendo, the actor, in a defending tweet, wrote, ” ‘COCK & BULL’ That’s the reference. Reading otherwise is unfair and leading! Nothing disrespectful was intended, said or insinuated. Period (sic),” he wrote.
Saina’s husband Parupalli Kashyap expresses disappointment with sexist comments
Exceptional shuttler Parupalli Kashyap, Saina Nehwal’s husband and a badminton player, took to Twitter on Monday to express his displeasure with actor Siddharth’s misogynistic remarks about his wife.
In a tweet on Monday, Parupalli Kashyap tagged Siddharth and wrote: “This is disturbing for us. Please express yourself, but use better language, guy. I bet you thought saying it this way was cool. #notcool #disgraceful “..
Meanwhile, Rekha Sharma, the chairwoman of the National Commission for Women (NCW), has written to Twitter India, requesting that the company “immediately block actor Siddharth’s remark” against Saina Nehwal.
The NCW chairperson called the actor’s remarks “misogynist and offensive” in her letter.
