Vivek Oberoi, Your Apology To Aishwarya Rai Is As Lame and Distasteful As Your Tweet!
One thing that both Elections and Bollywood have in common is that neither of them can stay clear of controversy. But this time, it looks like the two of them had a run in with each other, making it a story of epic proportions. Yes, we’re talking about Vivek Oberoi’s infamous tweet. If you’re on social media, we bet you’ve seen it already.
Vivek Oberoi, protagonist of the biopic for PM Narendra Modi, has landed himself in a puddle (or rather a pool) of trouble, criticism and an old controversy, and he has only himself to thank. It all started when the actor, mindlessly and distastefully, shared a meme on the election exit polls, that highlighted the various relationships of actress Aishwarya Rai – with ex-boyfriend Salman Khan, Vivek Oberoi himself, and then her marriage with Abhishek Bachchan, dragging their daughter Aaradhya Bachchan into the mix as well.
The meme brought up the fact that Aishwarya had once been in a relationship with Salman Khan (making it the opinion poll), later moved onto Vivek (exit poll), and finally settled down with Abhishek Bachchan (the end result). In all honesty, we love a good election meme. But this right here was completely out of line. Even if Vivek wanted to mock the polls, he could’ve done much better than this tasteless meme that takes a dirty dig at his ex, Ash. Haven’t you moved on yet, Mr Oberoi?
The tweet attracted action from the National Commision for Women, who promptly sent the actor a notice, demanding an explanation for sharing the “insulting” and “misogynist” tweet. In the notice, they cited that the actor should not have posted a picture of a minor girl and a woman for a sly reference. But Vivek still didn’t grasp the magnitude of the situation.
Vivek Oberoi speaks on Sonam Kapoor's reaction to his tweet (on exit polls), "…Aap apni filmon mein thoda kam overact karein aur social media pe thoda kam overreact karein. I've been working in women empowerment for 10 yrs now. I don't think this is hurting anyone's sentiments" pic.twitter.com/pOWAwO29N6
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2019
After insurmountable criticism on the Internet, and Vivek earlier refusing to apologise as he did not see anything wrong in his tweet, he finally succumbed to the social pressure of having to say sorry to Ash and her family for going too far with it. Actors like Sonam Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar, Madhur Bhandarkar and many more spoke up about the indecency of his actions, but Vivek hadn’t the slightest remorse.
Disgusting and classless. https://t.co/GUB7K6dAY8
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) May 20, 2019
Very disgraceful and in extreme bad taste of #VivekOberoi to put up such a disrespectful post. At least show the decency to pull off the post if not apologise to the lady and her little girl.
— Urmila Matondkar (@UrmilaMatondkar) May 20, 2019
Before he issued an apology, he had commented how he didn’t understand what people were mad about. “why people are making a big deal about this. Someone sent me a creative meme where I was being made fun of. I just wrote, ‘Ha ha,’ and appreciated the other person. When someone makes fun of you, you should laugh and not take it so seriously. I even wrote there that there’s nothing political about it. It’s life and such things happen in life that you are with someone and then you move on in life,” he said. Except, when the undertone of your meme is political and the butt of the joke is a woman and her family, Vivek! We don’t understand how you can’t see it.
In his apology, he wrote, “Even if one woman is offended by my reply to the meme, it calls for remedial action. Apologies.”
Even if one woman is offended by my reply to the meme, it calls for remedial action. Apologies🙏🏻 tweet deleted.
— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) May 21, 2019
He further wrote in another post that, “Sometimes what appears to be funny and harmless at first glance to one, may not be so to others. I have spent the last 10 years empowering more than 2000 underprivileged girls, I cant even think of being disrespectful to any woman ever.”
Sometimes what appears to be funny and harmless at first glance to one, may not be so to others. I have spent the last 10 years empowering more than 2000 underprivileged girls, I cant even think of being disrespectful to any woman ever.
— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) May 21, 2019
Let’s hope next time you don’t let such distasteful humour get the better of you, because as of now, the only one being laughed at is, sadly, you!
