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No Fear No Favour

“Zehnaseeb” singer Chinmayi Sripada reveals that she was sexually molested at an event

Singer Chinmayi Sripada, known for her work in South Indian films and for Bollywood songs like ‘Zehnaseeb’, has disclosed that she was groped at an event on Sunday.

In a series of tweets, the singer said: “After almost aeons, I got groped at an event yesterday. I happened to share this story on Instagram and what shocked me is how many men and women have been molested as children (teachers, brothers, co-passengers, uncles, grandparents and even women).”

Chinmayi then went on to tweet: “As for victims – speak up, yell, slap those who touch you without your consent. When groped we are temporarily stunned into silence – including me. This is usually the window the assaulter uses to his advantage.
Finally, it is NOT your fault. Be kind on yourself. Love yourself.”

And again, she tweeted: “Please – stop shaming the victims, their lipstick, hair, skin colour, clothes, attitude, talent, intelligence, whatever. Boys are at an equal risk of sexual abuse. Many are traumatised for life. Please understand they need the support as well. Don’t shame. Thank you.”

And again she tweeted: “Girls are afraid of telling their parents that they all made to stay at home and would be stopped from going to work/study. I believed things changed based on my own circle of fantastic men and women. Not so, clearly. Not to mention – women shaming other women who have been molested/harassed. And commenting on ‘you dress/look like that you are asking for it’ I think women need to be trained first on victim blaming and shaming. Men are shamed if they share an account of sexual assault/molestation during childhood. Women who gathered the courage to share have been blamed “she enjoyed it”. Imagine grown adults accusing a child of enjoying sexual assault. And other seemingly sane adults believing it. Most common places – Their own home, public transport, places of worship, educational institutions. Most girls and boys haven’t mustered the strength to share it with their family and friends coz no one would believe it. Even if girls have a chance of being heard, men have NONE.”

Chinmayi addressed the issue of harassment faced by both women and men in several tweets.

She added men are shamed if they share incidents of being sexually assaulted or molested during childhood.

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