Singer Monali Thakur has finally reacted to the sexual harassment claims made on her team after her concert in Varanasi last month. For those unversed, the singer had accused the concert organisers of poor infrastructural safety. Post that, the event organisers reportedly accused Monali’s manager of sexually assaulting a team member under the influence of alcohol.
Now, taking to her official Instagram account, Monali revealed that the event organisers have issued an apology. She also thanked Uttar Pradesh Police for their intervention and for bringing the situation under control.
Addressing the ‘horrific’ incident, Monali said, “Hope this letter is sufficient to clear any confusion anyone might have had about the credibility of any of the false defamatory accusations made against my team and myself, as well as the treacherous and unethical conduct of the organisers. It has been deeply troubling for me to process the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of the event management company’s team. Specially, their misuse of laws designed to protect against sexual harassment-laws that are vital for safeguarding people, specially women in our society-is both appalling and unacceptable.”
“Weaponising such laws for personal vendetta, ego satisfaction, or retaliation against those who refused to comply with unethical practices is not only a gross abuse of rights but also deeply disrespectful to genuine survivors of these heinous crimes. These reckless behaviour undermines the credibility of survivors who show immense courage in seeking justice and hampers the hard work of those fighting to eradicate such crimes. It is particularly disheartening to see young women participating in such actions, as it damages the cause and creates distrust around an issue that should always be treated with the utmost seriousness,” she added.
Recalling what unfolded on December 22, during her concert, Monali said, “My team and I were subjected to severe negligence in basic infrastructural safety, false accusations of harassment, and life-threatening intimidation. This forced me to leave the stage after 70 minutes of performance. It is absolutely unacceptable to treat vendors poorly, cheat them of their hard-earned money, or con them in any way. Disrespecting and harassing those working behind the scenes-whether they are backstage crew, artist managers, or artist coordinators-is not the way forward.”
“Such behavior should never be tolerated or entertained and I am confident in saying this on behalf of the entire live entertainment industry, a community that works tirelessly day and night to elevate Indian live entertainment to its highest potential and newest peaks. There has to be stricter regulations to protect performing artists, backstage and onstage crews from exploitation and to ensure a safe, professional, and respectful environment for all parties involved,” she added.
Monali had abruptly ended her Varanasi concert, citing an unsafe stage setup that risked injuries. According to media reports, she had also accused the organisers of being “irresponsible and unethical,” neglecting the safety of performers and the audience. She walked off the stage in protest against the poor arrangements.
Reacting to Monali’s allegations, the concert organisers had released a video statement denying her claims. They accused Monali and her team of harassment and attempting to tarnish their reputation, calling her accusations baseless.
