New Delhi:
Hardik Pandya, the Indian cricket team all-rounder, has issued a heartfelt apology for his comments on the show Koffee With Karan hosted by popular Bollywood director Karan Johar. Pandya took to his Twitter handle and issued the apology after his comments raised a massive controversy on social media, with several users labeling it ‘misogynistic’ and ‘racial’. The apology is related to a particular part where he passed some distasteful comments on women and his sexual activities on television. Along with Pandya, KL Rahul was the other Indian cricketer present on the show but his answers were proper and did not evoke any bit of controversy.
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) January 9, 2019
The situation came into light with this one conversation when Johar was asking questions about not asking women’s name in a night club and what do men talk about. To this, Pandya replied, “I like to watch and observe how they (women) move. I'm little from the black side so I need to see how they move." Pandya also boasted about how he casually discussed his sex life with his parents. “When I lost my virginity, I came home and said, 'Main karke aya hai aaj (I had sex today)'. At a party my parents asked me 'acha tera wala (women) kaun sa hai [who is your interest here?] so I said yeh, yeh, yeh (pointing out women)' and they were like 'waah proud of you beta',” Pandya replied with laughter.
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During the time when the #MeToo movement is active and sexual harassment is a serious issue which needs to be tackled in all fields, the comments from Pandya did not go down well with Twitter users labeling his comments ‘gross’ and a ‘big disappointment’. In his apology, Pandya has admitted that he got ‘carried away’.
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While Pandya’s comments have drawn plenty of flak, it must be observed that Rahul, who was the other guest in the program, responded with straight answers and showed his dignity. When asked about a situation if both like the same woman , Rahul responded, “It is upto the woman.” Pandya, in turn, responded, “Nahi nahi aisa kuch nahi hai, talent pe hota hai. Jisko mila woh leke jao (No, no, it is nothing like that. It is all on talent. Whoever gets it, take her away). It is on talent."
Someone please tell Hardik Pandya that what he thinks is a 'cool-idgaf-badboy' image comes out as nothing but creepy and gross.
— n. (@FeistyFangirlx) January 6, 2019
Watching Koffee with Karan (or however you spell it) with Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul and the toxic masculinity and racism egged on by Karan Johar’s giggles are the reason why Indian men are encouraged to unapologetically misogynistic. Unfortunate!
— Sanjana Chowhan (@Sanjanachowhan) January 6, 2019
Not only was Pandya trolled for these comments, he and Rahul were roasted on social media when asked as to who was the better batsman, Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli. Both of them replied Kohli and this did not go down well with many fans on social media.
However, Pandya’s comment might land him in bigger trouble, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India contemplating action. The BCCI, along with the Committee of Administrators, are planning to take a decision on this issue soon, according to several media reports. A BCCI official said strong action must be taken, “What Hardik has spoken at the show speaks poorly of the BCCI and Indian cricket. An apology is not enough and strong action should be taken so that right example can be set for the younger generation,” the unnamed official said.
#KoffeeWithKaran
— $iÄ‘Ä‘hesh🇮🇳 (@IamSiddhesh89) January 6, 2019
Hardik Pandya : Virat is better than Sachin!
Sachin Fans be like pic.twitter.com/lDryy7rmlp
Virat Kohli after watching today's#KoffeeWithKaran pic.twitter.com/eDyewotCgL
— Principle Patel (@PatelSiddhant_) January 6, 2019
On #KoffeeWithKaran KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya said Virat Kohli is better than Sachin Tendulkar. Completely agree with them. I also feel Hardik Pandya is a better all-rounder than Kapil Dev and KL Rahul is a better opener than Virender Sehwag. pic.twitter.com/KO4ihBRVpu
— Sir Jadeja (@SirJadeja) January 6, 2019
Pandya missed out on the four-Test series against Australia due to a back injury which he sustained in the Asia Cup in September which sidelined him for close to three months. Pandya played in the Ranji Trophy match between Baroda and Mumbai and put in a solid all-round performance which saw him being picked in the India squad for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests. India achieved history by winning a Test series in Australia for the first time when the final Test was drawn and the series was won 2-1.
India will now take on Australian in three ODIs before embarking on a tour to New Zealand which will involve five ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals.
