Siddharth issues apology to Badminton star Saina Nehwal for sexist comment; here’s what he said

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Bollywood and South cinema star Siddharth on Tuesday issued an apology to Badminton ace Saina Nehwal for his sexist comment earlier this week.

Responding to a tweet by Nehwal in which she wrote on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach during his visit to Punjab, Siddharth tweeted, “Subtle cock champion of the world… Thank God we have protectors of India. Folded hands. Shame on you Rihanna.”

The comment triggered uproar on social media, with many condemning the actor and his choice of words.

Reacting to Siddharth’s comment, Nehwal said: “I used to like him as an actor but this was not nice. He can express himself with better words but I guess it’s Twitter and you remain noticed with such words and comments.”

Siddharth took to social media late Tuesday night to issue an unreserved apology.

“Dear Saina, I want to apologise to you for my rude joke that I wrote as a response to a tweet of yours, a few days ago. I may disagree with you on many things but even my disappointment or anger when I read your tweet, cannot justify my tone and words. I know I have more grace in me than that,” he wrote.

“I am a staunch feminist ally and I assure you there was no gender implied in my tweet and certainly no intent to attack you as a woman,” he added.

Dear @NSaina pic.twitter.com/plkqxVKVxY

— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) January 11, 2022

“You will always be my Champion,” he concluded.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Monday sought “prompt and strict action” against the actor for using indecent language for women on social media.

In a statement issued by the NCW, which was shared by its chairperson Rekha Sharma on Twitter, the commission said that it had come across a post of actor Siddhart using lewd comments on Twitter on the post of Saina Nehwal.

The NCW termed Sidharth’s tweet as being “misogynist and outrageous to the modesty of a woman amounting to disrespect and insult to dignity of women on social media platform. (sic)”

Stating that it had taken suo moto cognisance of the issue, the commission said that its chairperson Rekha Sharma had written to the Director General of Police, Maharashtra to investigate the matter and register an FIR under the relevant provisions of law.

(With IANS inputs)