Netflix has been issued a legal notice by Indian social activist and political analyst Mithun Vijay Kumar for alleged derogatory and offensive remarks made against Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit Nene in the first episode of Season 2 of ‘The Big Bang Theory’. Kumar demanded the removal of the episode in the notice served to Netflix.
Kumar took offense to a scene where Raj Koothrapalli and Sheldon Cooper compared Dixit Nene and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Nayyar’s character called Aishwarya “a poor man’s Madhuri Dixit”, while Koothrapalli referred to Dixit Nene as a “leprous prostitute”.
Kumar shared the notice on Twitter and highlighted the character portrayed by Nayyar insulted the modesty of Dixit Nene and that such comments are derogatory and offensive towards Indian culture and women. He stated that streaming services have a responsibility to ensure their content is respectful, inclusive, and free from harmful stereotypes.
The incident highlights the importance of holding companies accountable for their actions and ensuring they are sensitive to the cultural values and sentiments of the communities they serve. It is a warning to streaming service providers to take appropriate actions towards establishing a media landscape that is fair, just, and respectful towards everyone.
Despite early mixed reviews, ‘The Big Bang Theory’ was a hugely popular show that ran for 12 seasons and won seven Emmy Awards from 46 nominations. Parsons was honored with the Golden Globe Award in 2011 for his performance in the category of Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series.
The legal notice to Netflix underscores the need for sensitivity towards cultural values and sentiments. It serves as a reminder to content creators that they have a responsibility to ensure that their work is respectful, inclusive, and free from harmful stereotypes. It is imperative that streaming service providers take appropriate measures to promote a media landscape that is fair and respectful towards everyone.
