Exclusive: Gauri Kishan on body shaming: It was harassment, I was shocked
Actress Gauri Kishan, in an exclusive interview, recently opened up about the body shaming incident that happened to her during a press meet. She highlighted how the harassment affected her mental health and called for an end to silence on such bullying.
Tamil actress Gauri Kishan is in the news after answering a reporter’s sexist question about her weight at a press conference of her film ‘Others’. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, she broke her silence about the body shaming episode she faced at a recent press meet and described it as harassment and bullying. It was an incident that sparked widespread outrage across the film industry and social media.
What should have been a routine promotional event turned into an extremely uncomfortable moment for the young actor, when a reporter asked an objectionable question about his weight instead of his performance or role in the film.
“It was harassment and bullying. The silence in the hall was terrifying,” she told India Today.
Gauri described feeling completely isolated in the room. “I was uncomfortable with that question. I was looking around the room helplessly. Everyone was shutting me down.”
He told that not a single question was focused on his art. “He didn’t ask a single question about my character or my role.”
Gauri accepted the lack of response from her director and team, but without any bitterness. “My director could have shut it down with one line. That’s fine. My crew’s lack of response was not malicious. We were stunned.” However, he also clarified that silence only empowers oppression. He highlighted the offensive behavior, saying, “None of us should have to tolerate this.”
Gauri revealed its impact on her mental health: “This incident affected my mental health. I almost started crying. My body became hot.”
She emphasized that women are not forced to maintain modesty in the face of disrespect. “You don’t have to be that nice girl, that sweet and shy girl that society expects of us,” she explained. Despite the emotional distress, Gauri said she has no regrets about speaking out.
A few months ago, Tamil anchor Ambi Aishwarya was asked by a man in the regional media about the sleeveless blouse worn with a saree. This recurring pattern of journalists asking women derogatory questions about their appearance has raised serious concerns about the credibility of YouTubers.
