2 weeks ago
Sexist 'climber' label follows women who date successful men
Sometimes people say bad things about famous actresses when they date men who are richer or more powerful.
They call the women a 'climber' or a 'gold digger,' which means someone who is only with a man for his money.
This happens even when the woman has her own career and earns her own money.
Anupama Parameswaran talked about a sad relationship that hurt her mental health and her work.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu was accused of asking for an enormous amount of money after her divorce, even though the claims were not true.
Sushmita Sen said she 'digs deeper than gold' and buys her own diamonds.
Malaika Arora and Rhea Chakraborty also told people to stop making up stories about their relationships.
These women are saying that people should accept that love can be real without money being involved.
When a man dates a famous woman, nobody asks what he is getting out of it.
The actresses just want the same respect that everyone else gets.
Anupama Parameswaran spoke of an intense two-year relationship in which marriage discussions began early, saying she realized it was not love and that it hurt her mental health and career.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu was branded a 'gold digger' over false claims that she sought a huge alimony running into crores after her divorce from Naga Chaitanya.
Sushmita Sen faced 'gold digger' accusations when her relationship with businessman Lalit Modi became public in 2022, replying that she 'digs deeper than Gold' and still buys her own diamonds.
Malaika Arora told a social media user to 'get your damn facts right' after being accused of marrying a rich man and divorcing him for alimony.
Rhea Chakraborty denied receiving money from Sushant Singh Rajput or her family, insisting her relationship was not a financial arrangement.
- Who
- Indian actresses Anupama Parameswaran, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Sushmita Sen, Malaika Arora and Rhea Chakraborty, along with the men linked to them, including Lalit Modi, Naga Chaitanya, Arbaaz Khan and Sushant Singh Rajput.
- What
- A news analysis examining how successful women are branded 'climbers' or 'gold diggers' when they date wealthy or powerful men, and how these actresses are pushing back against the narrative.
- Where
- India, within Indian celebrity culture and on social media.
- When
- Recent years, including Anupama Parameswaran's recent comments about a difficult relationship, Sushmita Sen's relationship becoming public in 2022, and speculation following Samantha Ruth Prabhu's divorce.
- Why
- Because of persistent assumptions that a woman with a richer, older or more powerful partner must have a financial motive, which erases her own career, financial independence and personal choice.
Critics of the 'climber' label
Those spreading 'gold digger' narratives
Financial motive in relationships
Critics of the 'climber' label
The women insist their relationships were not financial arrangements, noting their own careers and earnings; Rhea Chakraborty explicitly denied taking money, and Sushmita Sen said she buys her own diamonds.
Those spreading 'gold digger' narratives
Social media users assume that when a woman is with a richer, older or more powerful man, there must be a financial explanation, as seen in the alimony claims against Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
Double standard between men and women
Critics of the 'climber' label
A successful man linked to a famous woman is not assumed to be seeking her wealth, connections or status, while women are expected to prove they did not 'date up'.
Those spreading 'gold digger' narratives
Commenters treat such accusations as reasonable scrutiny of the wealth or status gap in the relationship rather than as sexist assumptions.
Key facts
- Main subject
- Sexist 'climber' and 'gold digger' labels placed on successful women in celebrity relationships
- Actresses featured
- Anupama Parameswaran, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Sushmita Sen, Malaika Arora, Rhea Chakraborty
- Anupama Parameswaran's account
- Two-year relationship; marriage discussions began early; she said it was not love and it affected her mental health and career
- Samantha Ruth Prabhu
- Divorced Naga Chaitanya; faced false claims of demanding alimony running into crores
- Sushmita Sen
- Relationship with Lalit Modi became public in 2022; responded 'I dig deeper than Gold'; Modi later called her self-made
- Malaika Arora
- Told a commenter to 'get your damn facts right' after divorce from Arbaaz Khan; established model, TV personality and entrepreneur
- Rhea Chakraborty
- Denied receiving money from Sushant Singh Rajput or her family; said the relationship was not a financial arrangement
- Setting
- Indian celebrity culture
Quotes
Malaika Arora
Indian actress, model, and entrepreneur.
“I dig[s] deeper than Gold”
easterneye.biz
“get your damn facts right”
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