'Bigg Boss-16': Netizens demand Sajid Khan's removal; will makers respond?
Bigg Boss 16, which kicked off on October 1, has started courting controversies already. The reason is filmmaker Sajid Khan's participation, who has been accused in multiple #MeToo cases by several women from the industry. Host Salman Khan's overwhelming support for the writer-director and "Colors TV's whitewashing campaign" is drawing netizens' ire who have now launched a petition to remove Sajid from the show.
Why does this story matter?
Over the years, multiple women have alleged that Sajid "touched them inappropriately," "spoke dirty to them," and "asked for sexual favors in exchange for movie roles." Subsequently, he was removed from the director's chair for Housefull 4 and, by his own admission, was "out of work" for four years. He was also suspended for a year by the Indian Film and Television Directors' Association.
Twitter users want Colors to take note of their anger
Several Twitter users have signed a Change.org petition and are urging everyone to spread the word. They are hoping that Salman, Colors, and the production house Viacom18 will take note of the overwhelming rage against Sajid and facilitate his departure from BB 16. Some others have also suggested voting in favor of other contestants so that Sajid is automatically shown the exit door.
Kashmera Shah, Shehnaaz Gill have received criticism for supporting Sajid
Sajid has been trending heavily on Twitter and several BB fans have expressed disgust over his participation and Salman's evident support for him. In fact, former Bigg Boss contestant Shehnaaz Gill, who is working on the film 100% with Sajid, batted for him through a video message, which further enraged several people. Actor Kashmera Shah also got trolled for backing the Himmatwala helmer.
Here's what Gill had said in Sajid's favor
Meanwhile, Urfi Javed, Sona Mohapatra slammed Sajid, Colors
Urfi Javed, who was seen in Bigg Boss OTT, has slammed Gill, Shah, and the makers. She wrote, "Working with sexual predators is not controversial but disgraceful." Singer Sona Mohapatra has also condemned "the complete disregard for women's voices in the #MeToo movement by the Indian TV channels" and has called Sajid, Kailash Kher, Anu Malik, Vikas Behl, and Suhel Seth "serial sex offenders."