Mumbai: Author and political analyst Mithun Vijay Kumar has sent a legal notice to Netflix asking the streaming giant to remove one of the episodes of its popular show Big Bang Theory. In the first episode of season two, the character Raj Koothrapalli, played by Kunal Nayyar, uses derogatory remarks against Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit.
Kumar stated in the legal notice that Raj Koothrapalli's remarks are not only offensive but also defamatory. The notice states that such content can have a negative impact on society, particularly in perpetuating harmful stereotypes against women. He further states that the content promotes sexism and misogyny which is not acceptable in any form.
The legal notice sent to Netflix's office in Mumbai demands the episode's immediate removal and failure to do so would result in legal action for promoting discrimination against women. If Netflix fails to respond or does not comply with the demands made in the legal notice, Mithun Vijay Kumar has stated that he will take further legal action against the streaming giant.
Speaking about the matter, Mithun Vijay Kumar said, "It is important to hold companies like Netflix accountable for their actions and to ensure that they are sensitive to the cultural values and sentiments of the communities they serve. I strongly believe that streaming service providers have a responsibility to carefully curate the content that they offer on their platforms. It is their duty to ensure that the material they present does not include derogatory, offensive, or defamatory content.I was deeply troubled by the use of a derogatory term in one of the shows on Netflix - Big Bang Theory. This term was used in reference to the acclaimed actress Madhuri Dixit, and it was not only offensive and deeply hurtful but also showed a lack of regard for her dignity.
I strongly believe that streaming service providers must take such issues seriously and act quickly to address any instances of offensive or defamatory content. Furthermore, streaming service providers should be proactive in preventing such content from being streamed. This can be achieved through clear guidelines and rigorous screening processes for all the content published. Ultimately, streaming services have a significant influence over the content that is consumed by millions of individuals, and with this influence comes a responsibility to ensure that the content they offer is respectful, inclusive, and free from harmful stereotypes. I hope that this incident will serve as a wake-up call to all streaming services providers to work towards creating a more equitable and respectful media landscape."
