In the current wave of #MeToo where brave people are outing their sexual predators, accusing men in position of power of abusing it to sexually exploit them, the latest one to be called out is standup comic Aditi Mittal. In a tweet posted by another female standup comic Kaneez Surka, Surka accuses Mittal of forcefully kissing her on her mouth and putting her tongue in her mouth.
— Kaneez Surka (@kaneezsurka) October 10, 2018
Surka narrates an incident from two years back at a comedy show she was hosting in Andheri Base in presence of audience of 100 and many other comedians where Aditi Mittal walked up on stage and allegedly forcefully kissed her on the mouth. She says she even put her tongue in her mouth without her consent. She says she later confronted her a year ago on the incident and while Mittal apologised at first, she soon turned hostile towards her, leaving Surka confused and hurt.
Surka says that seeing Mittal all over social media championing the cause of #MeToo and other feminist movements, it triggered her immensely. She said that she reached out to Mittal and gave her an opportunity to own up and issue a public apology without having Surka to reveal her identity. However, Mittal denied the incident of having kissed Surka. Surka accused Mittal of gaslighting, where a person manipulates other person into doubting their own sanity and version, and asking her to cross-check. She says that she has proof and is hurt that while most are coming forward asking everyone to believe the victim, Mittal would burden with this task.
Surka says that this action of hers is not a public vengeance, but she just wants a closure for violating her consent.
The #MeToo movement on social media has taken the country by a storm with many big industry names like Alok Nath, Rajat Kapoor, Varun Grover and comedians like Tanmay Bhat and Gursimran Khamba, co-founders of All India Bakchod being accused of sexual misconduct. Journalists like Prashant Jha and film director Vikas Bahl and many, many more have been named as perpetrators of harassment.
At the time of this report, Aditi has not reacted to the allegations. We shall update the story as and when she does the same.
Update: Aditi Mittal has issued a statement whereby she has clarified that it was a ‘peck on the lips’ without the tongue involved and it was a joke as a part of the act.
— Aditi (hot takes 4 koolkidz) (@awryaditi) October 10, 2018
She said that her intentions were not sexual in nature and she realises her act may have violated Surka’s personal space. She unconditionally apologised for the same.
