• By Sukanya Saha
  • Mon, 27 Mar 2023 07:01 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Streaming giant Netflix has been served a legal notice by political analyst Mithun Vijay Kumar over one of the episodes of the hit show, The Big Bang Theory. Kumar has requested the removal of the episode from the platform, claiming that it is both offensive and defamatory. He also accused the content of promoting sexism and misogyny.

In the first episode of season two of The Big Bang Theory, the character Sheldon Cooper, portrayed by Jim Parsons, made a comparison between Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit. During a particular scene, he referred to Aishwarya as a "poor man's Madhuri Dixit," in reaction to which, the character Raj Koothrapalli, portrayed by Kunal Nayyar, said, "Aishwarya Rai is a goddess, by comparison, Madhuri Dixit is a leprous prostitute."

Madhuri Dixit Called Leprous Prostitute| Watch

Mithun Vijay Kumar said that if Netflix does not respond to or meet the demands outlined in the notice, he will pursue additional legal measures.

See his tweet here:

"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," he said.

"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," he added.