By Arré Bench Sep. 23, 2020
Indian trolls today latched onto Poonam Pandey. The actress filed an FIR against her husband of 13 days, Sam Bombay, claiming that he had molested, threatened, and assaulted her. It led to some vicious stream of commentary from internet users, who stated that Pandey was faking the FIR to extort money from her husband.
Over the past few months, both the Indian media and social media platforms have become breeding grounds for peak misogyny and sexism. While the witch hunt against Rhea Chakraborty continues endlessly, today trolls latched onto Poonam Pandey.
Pandey, who was shooting for a film in South Goa, filed an FIR against her husband Sam Bombay claiming that he had molested, threatened, and assaulted her. The couple, who have been married only for 13 days, had tied the knot in a quiet ceremony earlier this month on September 1.
#PoonamPandey, who got married to Sam Bombay on Sep 11, filed a complaint against her husband claiming he had molested, threatened and assaulted her. pic.twitter.com/vY6i1Sg7dF
— Asianet Newsable (@ANN_Newsable) September 22, 2020
While the police have confirmed that Pandey went through with the mandatory medical tests at the time of filing the FIR, the incident has led to an uncalled-for, below-the-belt stream of commentary from internet users. Many have stated that Pandey was faking the FIR to extort money out of her Bollywood director and producer husband, reducing her ordeal to “easy earning scheme”.
BRAVO! WHAT A DEAL #PoonamPandey, EASY EARNING SCHEME WITHIN 11 DAYS.
Poonam's husband Sam arrested, they got married on Sep11, she filed a complaint against her husband claiming he had molested, threatened, assaulted her
Soon she will file maintenance ,DV, 498a demanding money. pic.twitter.com/oZFfYJjnGH— Barkha Trehan / बरखा त्रेहन (@barkhatrehan16) September 23, 2020
Others have gone ahead and taken a dig at the profession of the actor-model, known for her bold photoshoots. “Everyone knows what she does on & off the screen. Nobody can molest her,” one user said in a tone-deaf tweet.
#PoonamPandey planned an Easy Earning Scheme within just 13 days of her so-called marriage. A master stroke!
She filed FIR, her husband got arrested. Soon she'll demand money seeking divorce & maintenance.
Everyone knows what she does on & off the screen. Nobody can molest her. pic.twitter.com/9gkbA5ax66
— Alter Ego (@Alter_Ego45) September 23, 2020
This also led to users passing crass comments at the model.
Friends of poonam pandey husband texting him be like ..
🤤🤤🤤#PoonamPandey pic.twitter.com/vHRrjcMsuS— Troll troll troll troll troll troll (@memeskashowroo2) September 23, 2020
Although marital rape is yet to be recognised as a criminal offence in India, the mindset of the people, as visible in Pandey’s case, highlights how the plight of a woman can be reduced to dirt.
Me to poonam pandey#PoonamPandey pic.twitter.com/CxLfZk0FbI
— Naman Bhartia 🇮🇳 (@NamanBhartia1) September 22, 2020
India is no stranger to domestic violence or insensitivity towards victims of sexual assault.
Even so, a few users have come out in support of the actress, and have reprimanded those who made tasteless jokes out of her situation and claimed that she “deserved” it.
Imagine what happened with #PoonamPandey turns out to be real and what all your memes and tweets on her might have made her felt after what she already had went through.
Stop being judge, jury and executioner on social media.— Mitali Korea (@KoreaMitali) September 22, 2020
Idk wether #PoonamPandey is a liar or not but people finding it funny & not believable is next level shit
Sorry to burst your bubble but even a prostitute can get raped 🤷🏻♀️
It's all about "consent"
You can be naked in front of your partner all day even then he/she can't force
— Literary Escapade (@Damsel_is_high) September 22, 2020
It’s about time the people of the country got an education.
The fact that ppl think #PoonamPandey can't get harrased because of the job she does, tells you everything you need to know about sex education or lack thereof in our country
— Literary Escapade (@Damsel_is_high) September 22, 2020
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