Actor Siddharth on Tuesday issued a public apology after facing heat for his “rude joke” that he wrote in response to a tweet by badminton player Saina Nehwal.
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.
Dear @NSaina pic.twitter.com/plkqxVKVxY
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) January 11, 2022
This comes after the Tamil-Telugu actor was called out by many netizens and popular celebrities for his ‘crass’ language. Siddharth is being criticised for a tweet he wrote in response to Saina Nehwal’s tweet over the lapse in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security during his visit to Punjab’s Ferozepur on January 5.
However, he defended his tweet, saying that nothing disrespectful was intended, said or insinuated.
Last week, Saina Nehwal took to Twitter to share her thoughts on the security breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 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
Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal’s husband Parupalli Kashyap, a badminton player, took to Twitter on Monday to express his disappointment with sexist comments made by actor Siddharth about his wife.
Parupalli Kashyap, while tagging Siddharth in a tweet on Monday, wrote: “This is upsetting for us express ur opinion but choose better words man . I guess u thought it was cool to say it this way . #notcool #disgraceful”.
Meanwhile, Rekha Sharma, chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) has written to Twitter India to “immediately block actor Siddharth’s tweet” on Saina Nehwal.
In her letter, the NCW chairperson termed the actor’s comments as “misogynist and outrageous”.
READ: ‘She is a steadfast patriot’: Kiren Rijiju slams Siddharth for ‘cheap comment’ against Saina Nehwal
ALSO READ: NCW chairperson asks Maha DGP to file a case on Siddharth for his remark on Saina Nehwal
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