Kriti Sanon calls out 'misogynist men', 'brainwashed women' amid Jamui assault case

Actor Kriti Sanon said the debate around misogyny should not be framed as men versus women. Her remarks came as online outrage grew after the Jamui incident involving minors.

In Short

• Kriti Sanon shared her views on patriarchy, misogyny and women being judged
• She highlighted that the debate should not be reduced to gender binaries
• Sanon instead targeted those who uphold and defend patriarchal attitudes

Amid widespread outrage over the Jamui assault case, actor Kriti Sanon has weighed in on the ongoing discourse around gender inequality, clarifying that the issue is not a battle of "men vs women" while calling out "patriarchal misogynist men". Instead, Sanon emphasised that the true problem lies in deeply ingrained patriarchal attitudes and those who defend them, urging a focus on accountability rather than division.

Though the actor did not explicitly name any specific incident, her social media post coincides with widespread online outrage over the alleged harassment of a Class 10 student and her male classmate in Bihar’s Jamui.

The post reshared by Sanon read, "Guys, it’s not Men vs Women (sic)."

It added, "It’s women vs. Patriarchal misogynist men & brainwashed women who think patriarchy is a sanskar (sic)."

Sanon also liked another post that questioned why violence against women fails to provoke the same outrage as public commentary on an actor's choice of attire.

The post, shared by Instagram user Sarcastic Mohtarma, read, "The fact that rape, domestic violence, and dowry deaths do not invoke much outrage in this country as an actress showing cleavage in a festive ad says a lot about our priorities (sic)."

Although Sanon did not post an independent statement, her social media activity coincides with ongoing public discussions surrounding women’s safety and the scrutiny faced by female actors.

The actor did not name the Jamui case directly; however, her social media reshares coincided with reporting and online debate over the incident.

What happened in Jamui?

The incident occurred on the evening of September 19, when two Class 10 students were intercepted by a group of men while returning on a scooter in Bihar’s Jamui. According to police, the teenagers were restrained, assaulted, and subjected to physical and sexual harassment.

Following public outrage over a video of the incident circulated on social media, police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The prime accused, Nandan Yadav, was subsequently arrested after being injured in a police encounter.

Authorities have also launched an investigation into the online distribution of the clip, reiterating that sharing footage revealing the identity of minor victims is a punishable offence. The case has reignited widespread debate over women’s safety, moral policing, and law enforcement accountability.

Kriti Sanon's Raksha Bandhan ad row

Sanon previously faced online criticism over a Raksha Bandhan campaign for jewellery brand GIVA, in which she wore a bralette-style outfit. The commercial drew objections from a section of social media users and actor Kangana Ranaut, who questioned the suitability of the attire for a traditional festival. Responding to the row, Sanon wrote, “Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline (sic)!” GIVA later withdrew the advertisement following the pushback.

Earlier, Dhurandhar actor Ayesha Khan had also condemned the assault of minors in Jamui and questioned the justification of moral policing. Her remarks came amid outrage over the circulated video and a wider debate over harassment in the name of culture.

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