Gouri Kishan Calls Out Journalist for Body-Shaming at Press Meet; He Doubles Down
A video from the press meet of the film Others went viral on Thursday after actor Gouri Kishan confronted a male journalist, YouTuber Karthik, for asking questions about her weight. The incident sparked debate online about sexism and body-shaming in the film industry.
What Happened at the Press Meet
Gouri told ANI that the journalist asked her co-star Aditya Madhavan about lifting her in romantic sequences and questioned director Abin Hariharan about casting her opposite a well-built hero. The implication of his questions was that she was “out of shape and short,” which Gouri called out as inappropriate.
“And nobody was listening to me. He kept saying, ‘I never called you fat, I just asked your weight.’ Why do you want to know my weight? I play a doctor in the movie, pivotal to the story. They don’t want to know all of that,” she said.
Gouri added that the journalist was appalled she spoke up, and while the film team was ready to let the incident pass, no one defended her in the moment.
“For them, for some people, women are just there and shouldn’t have an opinion. Being a woman, you don’t get to speak out. The fact that nobody spoke up… everybody was ready to let it go. And that’s normalising it,” she said.
She concluded by asserting her autonomy:
“What I do with my body is my choice and I have that agency. This has to stop; it’s really not okay. It can impact health, self-esteem, and the hard work we’ve put in. Sustaining in an industry like this as a woman is just that much harder.”
Journalist Doubles Down
Karthik, speaking to Times Now, defended his question, saying it was “normal” to ask an actress about her weight, height, and age. He added:
“Should I ask her about George Bush, Donald Trump, or Modi, or otherwise?”
Gouri Kishan responded on X (formerly Twitter):
“Goes on to show that some people just never learn. It’s unfortunate that one’s own ignorance and age-old chauvinism can so easily define their personality. How much lower can one stoop?”
She also released a press note emphasizing that her call-out was not an invitation for harassment and encouraged everyone to act with empathy, sensitivity, and respect. She thanked those who spoke in her defense.
Impact and Reactions
The incident has reignited conversations around body-shaming, gender bias, and respectful interactions with women in media. Many fans and colleagues praised Gouri for asserting her boundaries and using the platform to highlight inappropriate behaviour in public events.
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