Chennai pub incident sparks outrage, Tamil channel slammed for chasing women

Thanthi TV is under fire for its coverage of women outside a Chennai pub. (Representational)

A prominent Tamil news channel, Thanthi TV, is under fire for its controversial coverage of an incident outside a Chennai pub. The channel's reporters engaged in what has been dubbed 'pub shaming,' chasing and harassing women, making inappropriate comments, and drawing criticism from both the public and renowned figures, including playback singer Chinmayi Sripada. The incident, initially reported by The News Minute, has ignited a storm on social media.

On the night of November 19, chaos erupted outside a Chennai pub on Turn Bulls Road during the World Cup final. Allegations of the pub operating beyond curfew hours led to police intervention. Thanthi TV's coverage, however, took a troubling turn as their cameras disproportionately focused on women, disregarding the discomfort expressed by the subjects.

The incident unfolded as women were persistently followed and chased for close-up shots and inappropriate comments were passed, despite attempts to shield their identities with scarves and masks. The biased focus on women triggered widespread social media criticism, with users condemning the channel's lack of respect for privacy and consent, especially concerning women.

One user on the micro-blogging site 'X' commented, "These media channels understand no concept of privacy or consent when covering such events, especially concerning women or the marginalized." Another user questioned the media's priorities, stating, "No morals, worst journalism. It’s the organizer's fault for exceeding the time limit, why are you chasing people who are trying to cover their faces and go away?"

These media channels understand no concept of privacy or consent when covering such events, especially concerning women or the marginalized.

I hope the @MIB_India takes stock of this and fines this channel.

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They do not have a right to hound these women. #ThanthiTV #Tamilnadu

— Saikiran Kannan |  (@saikirankannan) November 20, 2023

Despite deleting the post containing the controversial footage, Thanthi TV faced continued backlash. In an edited post on X, the channel described the incident as an "all-night alcohol party busted by the police," adding problematic comments about "half-dressed women."

The edited post, still perceived as misogynistic, pinned blame on the women present at the pub. The channel's video report further fueled outrage by repeatedly focusing on women's faces and bodies, ignoring their objections.

Chinmayi Sripada wrote a post about the incident criticising Thanthi TV.

“Thanthi TV’s employees going after women doing nothing except - have some alcohol - as if they were busting some group of rapists showcases everything that is wrong with society today. The problem is that the pub was open beyond specified hours - but the owner of the pub, nor the name of the pub disclosed. Instead they chase the women instead. The journalists of Thanthi TV who shot this video need to be identified and their photos shown to the world,” she wrote.

Thanthi TV’s employees going after women doing nothing except - have some alcohol - as if they were busting some group of rapists showcases everything that is wrong with society today.

The problem is that the pub was open beyond specified hours - but the owner of the pub, nor… https://t.co/dq3XGrFuzT

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) November 20, 2023

Media like @ThanthiTV neither have moral compass nor integrity. Pub was open beyond scheduled time, organisers doesn’t care about closing time, Police wasn’t aware early but Thanthi TV chose to defame women by running behind them even those women were shouting not to take their… https://t.co/BU76bcOzWL

— The Cancer Doctor (@DoctorHussain96) November 20, 2023

In a similar incident from 2009, a right-wing group, orchestrated a violent attack on a group of young women and men at "Amnesia – The Lounge" in Mangalore. In a shocking display of moral policing, 40 activists from the Sri Rama Sena forcibly entered the pub, "Amnesia – The Lounge," assaulting the patrons and claiming that the women present were violating traditional Indian values.