3 hrs ago
Smriti Irani Backs Salman Khan Against Online Trolling
Smriti Irani spoke about how people behave online.
She said social media gives many people a chance to share their opinions.
However, she said having an opinion does not give someone permission to be cruel.
She believes public figures should not have to accept humiliation just because they are famous.
People can disagree and criticise without attacking someone personally.
Her comments came after Salman Khan discussed online trolling on Bigg Boss 20.
Khan mentioned comments about celebrities’ looks, age and appearance.
Irani reminded people that online words can hurt someone for a long time.
Smriti Irani said social media freedom carries a responsibility not to hurt, humiliate or dehumanise others.
She argued that public figures should not be expected to accept online abuse as part of their profession.
Irani said users can disagree, debate and criticise without turning comments into personal attacks.
Her remarks followed Salman Khan’s discussion of celebrity trolling during a recent Bigg Boss 20 episode.
Khan had addressed comments targeting celebrities’ appearance, age and looks.
- Who
- Smriti Irani and Salman Khan; Irani discussed online trolling after Khan addressed it.
- What
- Irani argued that social media freedom should not be used to justify cruelty, humiliation or personal attacks.
- Where
- The comments were shared on social media, while Khan discussed the issue during Bigg Boss 20’s Weekend Ka Vaar episode.
- When
- Irani’s comments came shortly after Salman Khan discussed trolling during a recent Bigg Boss 20 episode.
- Why
- Irani wanted users to recognise the responsibility that comes with having a social media platform and to remember the person behind each account.
Free Expression and Criticism
Protection From Online Cruelty
Limits of social media opinions
Free Expression and Criticism
Users should be able to express disagreement, debate issues, criticise public figures and hold them accountable.
Protection From Online Cruelty
Irani said the right to express an opinion cannot become permission to hurt, humiliate or dehumanise people, including public figures.
Abuse as part of public life
Free Expression and Criticism
The discussion acknowledges the view that people in public life are expected to tolerate criticism as part of their profession.
Protection From Online Cruelty
Irani rejected the idea that entering public life means giving up the right to dignity or quietly accepting humiliation.
Key facts
- Main speaker
- Smriti Irani
- Related celebrity
- Salman Khan
- Television programme
- Bigg Boss 20
- Issue
- Online trolling and abuse
- Irani’s position
- Freedom of expression should be accompanied by responsibility and respect.
- Khan’s discussion
- Trolling directed at celebrities’ appearance, age and looks.
- Irani’s message
- Users can disagree, debate, criticise and question without dehumanising others.
Quotes
Smriti Irani
Actor-politician commenting on online speech and trolling
“Those in public life are often told that this simply comes with the territory - "put up or shut up." But should it? Why should stepping into public life mean stepping away from the right to dignity? Why should anyone be expected to quietly withstand humiliation simply because the person inflicting it is protected by the anonymity of a bot, hidden behind a faceless handle, or even emboldened enough to do it under their own name? "Mera handle, meri opinion" cannot become a fig leaf for cruelty.”
NDTV
“Freedom to speak is precious. So is the responsibility that comes with it. Disagree. Debate. Criticise. Question. Hold people in public life accountable. But surely, none of that requires us to forget that there is a human being on the other side of the screen.”
NDTV
Sources
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