Gaurav Gera Apologises To Neha Kakkar For Body-Shamming Her. But What’s With Neha Kakkar’s Double Standard?
If there is anything that I have learned from watching hundreds of stand-up comedy videos, it is that there is always a clear demarcation of where something ceases to be a joke and spits ball into being borderline offensive to someone. Once you have crossed that line, you are in dangerous waters. And while most comedians know where to draw that very fine line, in the groove of things, it can be pretty easy to cross it at times. Don’t get me wrong, in no situation is it okay to offend someone even then. But when you get a genuine apology for it, it certainly does make the whole situation a little lighter.
I think that is exactly what the whole Neha Kakkar, Gaurav Gera and Kiku Sharda situation was about. For those of you who are a little late to the party let me give you the brief version of the story. A few days ago, the two comedians who are known for their slapstick comedy made a parody sketch that included a character based on Neha Kakkar. Needless to say, while trying to roast Neha, they went as far as taking digs at her face, short height and even her songs. There was absolutely no element of humor left to the act.
Neha, who was in no mood to take this lightly put up a rather strong statement on Instagram thoroughly calling out these two comedians for being distasteful. In the post, she said “Shame on these people to create such a NEGATIVE and insulting content! My people know how much I appreciate comedy on me and otherwise but this one is Ridiculous!!! Stop using my name, Stop enjoying, dancing and acting on my songs if you hate me so much. Thankless people. Itna zyada enjoy karte ho mere songs pe (You enjoy my songs so much), you have such good times, you’ve partied so hard on my songs, you’ve made you GF BF hear my love songs, uske baad bhi itna bura likhte hue ho mere liye? Sharam nahin aati? (Yet, you wrote such bad things about me? Aren’t you ashamed?) We should be thankful to the people jinke wajah se hum khush hote hain otherwise aaj kal khusiyaan kitni mushkil se milti hain (It is rare to find people who make us happy).”
Also Read: Neha Kakkar Slams Gaurav Gera And Kiku Sharda For Body-Shaming Her During A Comic Sketch. They Stooped Too Low In The Name Of Humour!
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B5p9MIKBf0S/?utm_source=ig_embed
After this, as an attempt to repair the damage, Gaurav extended an apology to Neha in a recent interview. He insisted that it was never his or Kiku’s intention to hurt or shame her, and that they are in fact, fans of her. He said “I would not want to hurt her because I am a fan of hers. I love the way she sings and her songs are definitely parties ki jaan (her songs add fun to the party). Even if I don’t know her personally, we share greetings with each other whenever we meet. Her talent is totally appreciated, I am nobody to prove it to her. She has 30 million followers on Instagram who are there to prove her that how much they love her.”
Though his apology sounds genuine and all of this seems like a joke gone majorly wrong, I just think that it shouldn’t have taken them a whole controversy to realise that they are crossed the line. I am glad they apologized to her without trying to defend their act and such realisation, no matter after quite a social media uproar, was the right thing to do.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5cNgl0nQVu/
And while all that turned out to be well and good, there is one this that is eating away at me. It is the fact that Neha Kakkar could strongly voice her opinions out now when two comedians’ body-shammed her, but she stayed completely mum when the whole Anu Malik #MeToo scandal went down. She had no problem shutting something down that was directed straight at her, yet she sat next to a man who had been accused of sexual misconduct by at least half a dozen women episode after episode of Indian Idol without saying even a single word about it. And for someone who is known for having a voice (pun intended), this came across as quite a double standard.
She had no qualms about judging next to a man accused of sexual misconduct with other women for the longest time, so what changed now? In what world is being sexually assaulted not worse than being body-shammed? If she spoke out about this with such a fiery tone, shouldn’t she have supported those women who were fighting tooth and nail against a man she shared a table with? Or is it just a looking out for yourself kind of an approach with her? We don’t yet know, but definitely do get the hint.
As glad as we are that Neha was able to stand up for herself and ensure Guarav and Kiku apologise to her, we are also greatly disappointed that she did not stand up for Sona Mohapatra, Neha Bhasin and Shweta Pandit when the moment came. Where is the offence now, Neha? Or is it just reserved for when you’re personally attacked?
https://thehauterfly.com/lifestyle/elli-avrram-opens-about-her-struggles-with-sexism-body-shaming-and-the-casting-couch-and-its-horrifying/
