Women in Chennai pub chased and moral policed by news channels, social media users outrage

The night of the World Cup final match turned horrific for women who went to a pub on Turn Bulls Road in Chennai. On that night, the pub broke the mandated curfew as they remained open till past midnight. Soon after this, the police arrived and forced them to shut the place. Tamil news channels were also quick enough to reach there and they started critiquing the attire and conduct of the women who were patrons at the pub.

Reports from the Saidapet police, responsible for the pub’s jurisdiction, confirmed the pub’s prolonged operation past 11:30 pm. Upon receiving a complaint at midnight, law enforcement arrived, and after a delayed response from the pub, they took necessary action and filed a report at the J1 Saidapet police station.

However, the presence of various news channels, including Sun TV, Jaya TV, and Thanthi TV at the scene during the police inspection raised questions about their focus and subsequent coverage. The footage that was aired on television showed that the reporters were chasing women and taking their pictures.

The manner of reporting by these channels, rife with derogatory remarks and insinuations regarding women’s behaviour, has triggered widespread outrage across social media platforms. Many individuals criticized the media's approach, highlighting the unfair targeting of the women present at the pub and expressing discomfort at the misogynistic narrative constructed by these news outlets.

Thanthi TV, in particular, faced significant backlash for their coverage, which initially blamed the women for the alleged "all-night alcohol party" and subsequent police intervention. Even after editing their social media post, the channel continued to perpetuate a narrative that shifted blame onto the women, using derogatory language and persistently focusing their cameras on the women's faces and bodies, disregarding their expressed discomfort and attempts to maintain privacy.

Several social media users called this incident out and said these journalists have no morals and this is the worst kind of journalism.

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