Media#MeToo perps under scrutiny

The #MeToo movement gathered greater momentum with more names of men who harass women coming out on the social media. If the name of singer Kailash Kher was a prominent name to emerge most recently, there were also anonymous posts against the likes of Radha Ravi, the Tamil film actor and more charges made against a newspaper editor. More support for India’s #MeToo snowballing movement also emerged with prominent stars speaking up for the survivors.

The media brigade has been making all the news with several editors named besides MJ Akbar who is now the minister of state for external affairs. The name of the Editor of the south Indian newspaper chain The New Indian Express was also brought out with survivors recounting their experiences. Says Roshni@book_polygamist “I, for one, never spoke of it publicly until now.  These things happen so casually that no woman who had to go through this would have any proof of what happened to her. It’s ALWAYS the word of a MAN in power against all the women he’s sexually assaulted.”

She goes on to declare - “HE IS STILL THE EDITOR. But women who complained either quit this hopeless workplace or just decided to put up with this shit for they needed a job. The thought process behind both these decisions are equally appalling.” His name as Editor still appears in the imprint of the newspaper. Annie Thomas @AnnieThomaz says this South Indian newspaper’s editor is a repeat offender. He has done this to at least SIX women that I know of.”

STARS SPEAK UP
Samantha, Varalaxmi and more recently Chinmayi are very the few Tamil film personalities who have come out openly in support of the #MeToo movement that has named and shamed many celebrities. Aditi Rao Hydari who was recently seen in Mani Ratnam’s Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, came out strongly in support of Tanushree Dutta, who had made public her experience of being sexually harassed by Nana Patekar.

“Every incident I read about is extremely gut-wrenching. Women all living with scars for years feeling there isn’t much they can do about it, normalizing abuse while their sick perpetrators work freely, protected by the system and their stardom. This has to stop. We need to come together and support these brave people for speaking up. The Time is now. #IBelieveHer,” she posted.

Aditi goes on to write, “Recently, a journalist friend of mine from the US who has been following #MeTooIndia called and asked me...”Are you’ll doing something about this together?” I wanted to say yes, but I know we aren’t there yet.” That sums up the situation now even as survivors are being emboldened to come out with their nasty experiences at the hands of men in the entertainment and media industries.

“We may not be there yet, but we can. We can make it happen. We have to make it happen. The only way to have a breakthrough is if we do it together, giving those who have been wronged, the strength and support to stand up and speak. We need to #StandTogether”, she concluded.