Netflix Responds To Legal Complaint Against Madhuri Dixit Comment In The Big Bang Theory
Mithun Vijay Kumar issued the streaming service a legal notice demanding that it take down the show.
New Delhi: 'The Big Bang Theory's licensor, Warner Bros, was directed to by Netflix after political analyst Mithun Vijay Kumar issued the streaming service a legal notice demanding that it take down the show. Speaking to Hindustan Times about the response, Kumar said he expects the show's producer to take appropriate measures.
In response to Kumar's objections raised in the notice, Netflix redirected him to Warner Bros. The producers, who are anticipated to take the following move in the situation, have also been told about the same by the streaming service.
When asked about Netflix's response, Mithun Vijay Kumar said, “As a sensible streaming service provider that understands cultural sensitivities, Netflix has informed the original producers of the show regarding the gravity of the issue raised by me. I hope Warner Bros will take appropriate content moderation measures and ensure that their content is free from such abusive language towards people and cultures.”
“As an individual, I believe that all such programs that use derogatory language in the name of humour must be taken down. We even have recent observations from an honourable high court on the need to regulate content with vulgar language on social media and OTT. While the Big Bang Theory episode may be one such issue, there are plenty of other shows where the content needs to be regulated. But I hope this incident has highlighted the need for content moderation on streaming platforms when foul language crosses a particular line. In our society, even today, swear words are not spoken in the presence of family, women, children, etc., then why is OTT an exception?” he further added.
The show, according to Kumar, encouraged sexism and misogyny. Aishwarya Rai was referred to as "a poor man's Madhuri Dixit" by actor Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper) in the season two premiere of 'The Big Bang Theory', which aired on September 22, 2008.
In the same scene, actor Kunal Nayyar's character Raj Koothrapalli, replied, “Aishwarya Rai is a goddess, by comparison, Madhuri Dixit is a leprous prostitute.”
On September 24, 2007, CBS aired the debut episode of 'The Big Bang Theory'.
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