A day after actor Gouri Kishan called out a journalist for asking an objectionable question about her weight during a press meet, she has issued an official statement addressing the episode. Kishan expressed her disappointment at being asked about her body rather than the film she was promoting, noting that her male counterparts were not subjected to similar questions.
The journalist involved, RS Karthik, also clarified his stance, stating that the question was intended to be “fun” and apologised for any distress caused. In a video shared by Manorama, Karthik said, “I have been very disturbed these past few days because of what happened. I posed the question a certain way and she interpreted it differently, calling it stupid. It was meant to be a fun question, and I didn’t mean to body shame anyone. If she has been hurt in any way, I apologise. I had no other motives.”
In her official social media statement, Gouri Kishan outlined her concerns about the state of the industry. She wrote, “As a public figure, I understand that scrutiny is part of my profession. However, comments or questions targeting a person’s body or appearance are inappropriate in any context. I wish I had been asked questions about the film. I cannot help but wonder if a male actor would have been asked the same question in such an aggressive tone.”
She continued, “This is not new but still prevalent: normalising body shaming in jest while perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards. I hope this will be a reminder to anyone who has felt this way that we are allowed to speak up, express our discomfort, question wrongs, and work to stop this cycle.” Kishan also urged the public, “This is not an invitation to target or harass the individual involved. Let’s use this moment to move forward with greater empathy, sensitivity, and respect on all sides.”
The incident occurred during the press meet of the upcoming film Others, attended by director Abin Hariharan and debutante Aditya Madhavan. The journalist asked Madhavan about lifting Kishan during a film sequence. Kishan immediately interrupted, pointing out the insensitivity of the question, leading to a verbal exchange that drew significant attention online.
Several commentators noted the silence of co-star Madhavan and director Hariharan during the exchange. Madhavan explained in an NDTV interview, “We should have spoken up, but she was making her point. We didn’t want to interrupt her; otherwise, her point wouldn’t have come across.”
Director Hariharan also addressed the incident via an Instagram video, saying, “Many questioned why I didn’t speak up. I was shocked too. I’ve not attended many press conferences and remained quiet because I thought speaking while Gouri was talking would escalate the situation. I stand with Gouri.”
Beyond her co-star and director, Kishan received widespread support from fans and contemporaries nationwide, with many praising her for standing up for herself and challenging body-shaming practices in the industry.