Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said such controversial statements should not have come from people like him (Alencier).
Published Sep 20, 2023 | 11:39 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 20, 2023 | 11:39 AM
Alencier speaking during the State Award function. (Supplied)
The Kerala Women’s Commission on Tuesday, 19 September, registered a case on its own against actor Alencier Ley Lopez for allegedly misbehaving with a woman journalist who approached him for an interview over his controversial remarks made during the recent Kerala State Film Awards ceremony.
Commission chairperson P Sathidevi said Rural Superintendent of Police D Shilpa was asked to submit a report on the controversial incident.
Receiving the Kerala government’s Special Jury Award for his acting in the Malayalam movie Appan (2022), Alencier on Thursday, 14 September, said he should not be “tempted” by giving a sculpture of a female.
In a controversial remark, the actor further said he should not be insulted by giving a female sculpture at the venue where a strong male chief minister sits.
In a statement, Sathidevi said he made derogatory remarks against women after accepting the award at the ceremony. She also termed his comments as “highly reprehensible.”
“If he disagreed, he should not have accepted the award. It was inappropriate to make such a remark after receiving the honour,” the chairperson said.
Though all the people in the State expected him to correct the mistake after the incident, it didn’t happen. Instead of correcting the mistake, Alencier later spoke to a woman journalist who came to take his interview in a “very offensive language,” she pointed out.
The Rural SP already registered a case against the actor on a complaint in the issue, and the Women’s Commission sought a report in this regard, Sathidevi added.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the controversial remarks by Alencier and said that such statements should not have come from people like him.
People like Alencier were liked by everyone and they should not spoil that through their words, the chief minister said in a press conference while replying to a question.
During the state award ceremony, Alencier had said that she would stop acting the day he received a male sculpture along with the award.
“The award carried a lot of weight. Received Special Jury Award. Don’t insult me and Kunchacko Boban by giving ₹25,000. Please increase the amount,” he added.
The performances of Kunchacko Boban and Alencier Ley Lopez in the movies Nna, Thaan Case Kodu (2022) and Appan, respectively earned them the Jury’s Special Mention award.
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