Who Is Shiyas Kareem, Accused of Forcing Malayalam Actress Anumol Anukutty To Eat Beef? Controversy Explained

Shiyas Kareem, a man whose primary claim to fame remains a stint on Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 1, has once again found himself at the centre of a self-inflicted firestorm.

The latest controversy erupted from a viral video captured at a wedding. Kareem is seen badgering actress Anumol Anukutty, the winner of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7, to eat beef. Despite Anumol's polite and repeated refusals, citing her strict diet, Kareem refused to let the matter rest. In a move that many have labelled as blatant harassment masked as "banter," he mockingly questioned if her refusal was due to "joining the BJP."

A Pattern of Provocation

The backlash was swift. Netizens have rightly pointed out that Kareem's behaviour was not merely "jesting" between friends, but a calculated attempt to politicise a personal dietary choice. By injecting volatile political sentiments into a private meal, Kareem displayed a stunning lack of decorum.

True to form, Kareem's "apology" on Instagram was anything but. Rather than taking accountability for his overbearing behaviour, he doubled down, blaming "BJP people" for the outcry. His defence that such comments are common in his hometown of Perumbavoor rang hollow to an audience tired of his aggressive brand of "humour."

To understand why the public has so little patience for Shiyas Kareem, one must look at his sordid history. In 2023, Kareem's reputation hit an all-time low when he was arrested following harrowing allegations of rape and cheating.

A female gym trainer in Kochi accused Kareem of repeated sexual assault under the false pretext of marriage. While Kareem was eventually released on bail and maintains his innocence, the gravity of the charges left a permanent stain on his public persona.

Toxic Masculinity on Full Display

Perhaps most telling is Kareem's recent rhetoric regarding his legal troubles. In his Instagram rant, he dismissed the seriousness of such cases by claiming they only exist because "girls are given priority in the law." He capped off this display of toxic bravado with the statement: "Jail is for men."

This dismissive attitude towards the judicial system and the rights of women paints a clear picture of who Shiyas Kareem truly is: a man who views legal accountability as a badge of "manliness" and views social boundaries as obstacles to be trampled.

Whether he is badgering a colleague at a dinner table or navigating the halls of a courthouse, Shiyas Kareem continues to prove that his true talent isn't acting it's a relentless pursuit of notoriety at any cost. For a man who insists on living in the limelight, he seems remarkably comfortable in the dark.