Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai

Chennai, Nov 7: Actress Gouri Kishan strongly confronted a journalist in Chennai after being body-shamed during a press event for her upcoming film Others. The journalist had insensitively questioned her about her body weight, referring to a scene where the film’s hero lifts her.

Unfazed by the awkward moment, Gouri called the question “stupid” and slammed the justification offered by other journalists as “a disgrace” to the profession. “Don’t normalise body shaming,” she said firmly, questioning why such a question would never be directed at a male actor. “Why are there no questions about my character or performance?” she asked.

Despite her composure and clarity, none of the members from the film’s team came forward to support her. When some tried to interrupt her objection, Gouri stood her ground, saying, “It’s about me. Shouldn’t I have a perspective?”

Pointing out that she was the only woman in the hall, Gouri questioned the lack of respect shown to her. “Why are you all silencing me?” she asked, highlighting the gender insensitivity prevalent in such spaces.

Singer and activist Chinmayi Sripaada took to X (formerly Twitter) to applaud Gouri’s courage, saying, “Gouri did an amazing job. The moment you call out a disrespectful and unnecessary question, shouting down begins. So proud that someone so young stood her ground. No male actor gets asked what his weight is.”

The incident has sparked a debate within media circles, with several journalists criticising the growing trend of unfiltered, sensational questions at press meets. One journalist commented, “YouTubers often don’t have any mechanism to vet their questions. They’re not accountable to anyone. They report, edit, and publish without any ethical oversight.”

The controversy has reignited conversations about professionalism, gender sensitivity, and ethics in entertainment journalism.