Jiiva Denies Existence Of Sexual Abuse In Tamil Films, Limits It 'Only To Kerala'; Chinmayi Takes Dig

Actor Jiiva recently found himself in the midst of controversy during an event in Tamil Nadu's Theni, where he got into a scuffle with a journalist over his comments on the Hema Committee Report.

The incident quickly went viral, drawing reactions from various quarters, including singer Chinmayi Sripada, who took a dig at the actor's stance.

During the event, when Jiiva was asked about the Hema Committee Report, which highlights rampant sexual assault cases in the Malayalam film industry and exposes how powerful individuals harassed female actors and technicians, the actor responded with concern.

He acknowledged the wrongs exposed by the report, saying, "I heard about it too. It's wrong."

Jiiva further commented on the ongoing revelations in the film industry, stating, "We had #MeToo part 1 and now part 2 has come. Now, people are openly naming them [abusers]. It's wrong. We should have a healthy atmosphere in cinema."

However, when the journalist pressed Jiiva further on the subject, especially regarding whether similar issues were prevalent in Tamil cinema, Jiiva appeared to sidestep the question.

He said, "We've come here for a good event, so let's say good things. I've come to Theni after a long time. I'm coming here after shooting for a movie called Thenavattu. A lot of things are happening in a lot of industries. Your job is to gather news. Our job is to maintain a good atmosphere. As actors, we bring a smile to many people's faces, and we have come here for that reason."

Despite his earlier remarks, Jiiva denied the existence of sexual harassment in Kollywood when directly questioned, asserting, "I've already replied to this, I can't keep replying again and again. Such issues don't happen in the Tamil industry; they only happen in Kerala."

The situation escalated when Jiiva, reportedly frustrated by the repeated questions, asked if the journalist had "sense," leading to a ruckus among the journalists present.

Singer Chinmayi Sripada, known for her vocal stance on issues of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry, reacted sharply to Jiiva's comments.

She expressed disbelief over the actor's denial of sexual harassment in Tamil cinema, writing, "I really do not understand how they are saying sexual harassment does not exist in Tamil Industry. HOW?!"

Chinmayi has long been an advocate for addressing sexual harassment in the film industry, having spoken out about her own experiences and ongoing legal battle against Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu.

She has highlighted the systemic rot within the industry, noting that "in most film industries, the perpetrators work together."

She described the situation as a "nexus of power, politics, and money," pointing out how these powerful connections often protect offenders from facing consequences.