Vijay Sethupathi refutes ‘filthy' sexual harassment allegations, says accuser is ‘obviously doing it to be noticed': ‘Jealous elements tarnishing me'

Indian Express

2 days ago

Vijay Sethupathi has broken his silence on the sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by a person on social media. The actor, who is primarily known for appearing in Tamil films like Maharaja, Viduthalai, Super Deluxe, among others, said that the woman making the accusations was 'doing it to be noticed.' Calling the accusations 'filthy,' Vijay said that he has filed a complaint with cyber crime cell and insisted that the person making the accusations is a 'jealous element' trying to damage his reputation ahead of the release of his new film Thalaivan Thalaivii.
Refuting the allegations, he told Deccan Chronicle, 'Anyone who knows me even remotely will laugh at this. I know myself too. This kind of filthy accusation can't upset me. My family and close friends are upset, but I tell them, 'Let it slide. This woman is obviously doing it to be noticed. She has her few minutes of fame, let her enjoy it.''
Vijay added that his legal team was already on the case, and said, 'We've complained to cybercrime.' He said that he has faced many other obstacles in the past and has emerged unscathed. 'I've faced all kinds of whispering campaigns for seven years. Such targeting has not affected me so far. It never will,' he said.
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Vijay insisted that he was being targeted because his latest film, Thalaivan Thalaivii, also starring Nithya Menen, was 'doing well'. He said, 'My new film is doing well. Probably, some jealous elements think that by tarnishing me they can damage my film. It doesn't work that way. In today's day and age, anyone can say anything about anybody. There are no filters. All you need is an account on social media and you can write what you like without fear of repercussions.'
The controversy began when a user named Ramya Mohan took to X and accused Vijay of sexual misconduct. '@VijaySethuOffl has offered Rs 2 lakh for 'caravan favors', Rs 50k for 'drives' and acts like a saint on social media,' she wrote and added, 'This isn't one story. It's many, and the media worships these men like they are saints. The drug-sex nexus is real. Not a joke.' She also added, 'Kollywood's drug and casting couch culture isn't a joke. A girl I know now, a known face in the media, was dragged into a world she never signed up for. She's now in a rehab center. Drugs, manipulation, and transactional exploitation disguised as 'industry norm'.' The post has since been deleted.