The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Monday sought a response from actor Vivek Oberoi for his "misogynistic" tweet on exit polls. Earlier the Maharashtra State Women's Commission (MSWC) had found the post "disrespectful" to the dignity of women.
Demanding a "satisfactory explanation" from the actor, the NCW noted that the "insulting and misogynistic" Twitter post carrying the picture of a minor girl and a woman, drew a sly comparison between the poll results and a woman's personal life.
Haha! 👍 creative! No politics here....just life 🙏😃
— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) May 20, 2019
Credits : @pavansingh1985 pic.twitter.com/1rPbbXZU8T
It said that the post made is "extremely offensive, unethical and shows disrespect towards the dignity and respect of women in general".
The Maharashtra women's rights body had also taken cognisance of the tweet.
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
"Yes. We have studied the tweet and it is prima facie found to be objectionable. We shall serve him notice on Tuesday to explain himself," MSWC Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar told IANS.
Disgusting and classless. https://t.co/GUB7K6dAY8
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) May 20, 2019
On Monday, Vivek landed himself in a huge controversy over a meme he tweeted virtually mixing politics and films by dragging in the personal lives of prominent Bollywood bigwigs.
His tweet showed a set of three photos - one referring to 'opinion poll' having a picture of Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai, next was the 'exit poll' depicting himself with the actress and the third showing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with her husband Abhishek Bachchan and their seven-year-old daughter Aaradhya.
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 (@OfficialUrmila) May 20, 2019
The meme was originally shared by someone else on Twitter, but Vivek picked it up for his own comment: "Haha! Creative! No politics here just life!"
The curious case of #VivekOberoi
— irfan (@simplyirfan) May 20, 2019
Since their break-up, Salman has never uttered word about Aishwarya Rai.
Vivek Oberoi, on the other hand, called her a plastic doll,
repeatedly blamed her for manipulating him & destroying his career.
And now this crass meme! Move on, Vivek. pic.twitter.com/S8CtewOmDL
As social media went into a frenzy, Nationalist Congress Party women wing chief Chitra Wagh and others demanded stringent action against Vivek for the meme.
"He has insulted the dignity of Aishwarya Bachchan. The MSWC must lodge a complaint against Oberoi and he should be arrested for crossing his limits of decency towards women," Wagh said.
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 (@OfficialUrmila) May 20, 2019
Celebrities Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Jwala Gutta and Madhur Bhandarkar slammed Vivek's tweet too.
The 42-year-old actor is married to Priyanka Alva and they have two children.
Vivek Oberoi on notices by National Commission for Women & Maharashtra State Commission for Women: I'm waiting for National Commission for Women, State Commission for Women. I'd like to meet them, I'll also like to explain myself because I don't think I have done anything wrong. pic.twitter.com/yeqRFu6B1Y
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2019
Vivek Oberoi: I don't know why people are making a huge issue out of it. Someone had sent me a meme which made fun of me. I laughed on it&I appreciated the person for his creativity. If someone mocks at you, you should not take it seriously. pic.twitter.com/Ak23Slw8vr
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2019
Vivek Oberoi: People are saying apologise, I have no problem in apologising, but tell me what wrong have I done? If I have done something wrong I will apologise. I don't think I have done anything wrong. What's wrong in it? Somebody tweeted a meme and I laughed at it. pic.twitter.com/d7z5362rwr
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2019