'Rising Star 3': Neeti Mohan, Diljit Dosanjh, Shankar Mahadevan called out for turning eve-teasing comments into a prank

The third season of the live singing-based reality show, Rising Star kickstarted a few weeks back. The show is hosted by Aditya Narayan and judged by Shankar Mahadevan, Diljit Dosanjh and Neeti Mohan. Due to the recent episode aired over the weekend, the reality show likely to face some controversy. In the wake of #MeToo movement in India, netizens feel that the judges might have taken sexual harassment lightly and as a prank. This hasn't gone down well with many.

It so happened that two contestants used words such as 'kadak and Raapchik in a laal saree' to describe Neeti. After hearing this, Neeti ranted against them that they shouldn't forget where they are standing and they were wrong in using cheap language. The singer stated, "I am representing all the girls here and I don't allow this. No one can talk to me, or any girl like this in this country or any country. We three judges don't approve this, the show doesn't approve this, the channel doesn't approve this was of talking."

However, when she saw both the contestants shaking in fear after she threatened to disqualify them, Neeti burst into laugh along with Shankar and Diljit. They, later on, revealed it was a prank on the contestants, who then went on to perform and even touch Neeti's feet.

Until Neeti stood up for herself people applauded her, but when she called it as a 'prank', Twitterati lost it and called out the judges. Gender equality activist, Kirthi Jayakumar and Chinmayi Sirpaada tweeted about it in a thread.

Take a look:

Absolutely appalled at how @neetimohan18, @diljitdosanjh, @Shankar_Live and the rest of the crew literally threw the #MeToo movement under the bus on @ColorsTV. Speaking up about sexual harassment is not easy, and here you're all belittling it as "mazaak".

— Kirthi (@kirthijayakumar) March 23, 2019

Terrible that @neetimohan18 says that she represents all girls on the stage, and then threatens to walk out in response to what is clearly inappropriate and verbal sexual harassment, and then proceeds to laugh at how it is all a prank. Seriously, sexual harassment is not a joke.

— Kirthi (@kirthijayakumar) March 23, 2019

And now @diljitdosanjh apologized to them!! @Shankar_Live says it was a prank by one contestant on another. Thanks to how casually you all treat an issue so serious, there is ZERO accountability in this industry for sexual harassment.

— Kirthi (@kirthijayakumar) March 23, 2019

I truly hope you all introspect and think about how you've undermined such a grave issue. You've completely disrespected the emotional labour it takes to fight harassment, to speak up and to seek redress. You've reduced it all to a joke @neetimohan18 @Shankar_Live @diljitdosanjh

— Kirthi (@kirthijayakumar) March 23, 2019

Oh. My. God. This is Disgusting. Aditya Narayan just asked Diwakar Sharma, who is blind, to describe how each of the judges look. I'm so sickened by this apathy and disrespect. Disability is not a joke, you insensitive people.

— Kirthi (@kirthijayakumar) March 23, 2019

.@ColorsTV stop condoning sexual harassment. https://t.co/qVcoMz7vbb

— Kirthi (@kirthijayakumar) March 24, 2019

Hi Shankar sir and Neeti - I called out Mr Vairamuthu and have been banned by the TN dubbing union.

Please do know this aint funny. I am fighting a court case.

Though support would have been great, this tone deaf ‘joke’ could have been avoided.

 

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) March 24, 2019

We have to wait and see where this leads now!