Actor Siddharth on Tuesday apologised to Saina Nehwal after receiving huge backlash for his “rude joke” on the badminton star on Twitter. A tweet by Siddharth commenting on Saina’s remark over the lapse in the security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Punjab visit had netizens fuming.
In his letter of apology 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.”
Further apologising for the joke, Siddharth said, “As for the joke, if 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 wordplay 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 you 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.”
The National Commission for Women on Tuesday asked Twitter to block the account of Siddharth for his “lewd and inappropriate” tweet against Saina Nehwal. The NCW also wrote to the Maharashtra police seeking registration of an FIR against him.
The NCW claimed the comment was ‘misogynist, outrages the modesty of a woman and amounts to disrespect and insults the dignity of women.’
Actor Siddharth has repeatedly given sexist remarks on women. NCW is in touch with the Tamil Nadu DGP to take action on Saina Nehwal’s issue: NCW Chairperson, Rekha Sharma on shuttler Saina Nehwal’s tweet pic.twitter.com/5ICXbagYVM— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2022
“The Commission condemns such lewd and inappropriate remark made by the actor and has taken suo motu cognisance in the matter. Chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to the Maharashtra DGP to immediately investigate the matter and register an FIR under relevant provisions of the law. The panel has sought prompt and strict action against him for using indecent language against women on social media,” the panel said in a statement.
