Actor and TV presenter Pearle Maaney has come under intense scrutiny on social media following his comments on the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar.What started as a post calling for peace and safety quickly turned into a huge online controversy, with thousands of users criticizing his views.In two days, Pearle, who also had an interview channel on YouTube, lost more than 3 thousand followers on Instagram. His follower count also declined on Facebook and YouTube.
Pearle Maaney’s post on student protests draws mixed reactions
Pearle addressed the student protests in a lengthy Instagram post. She wrote: “All I could think was… Please don’t get hurt. Please stay safe. If your life is in danger, come home. A life is not worth losing for any reason. At the same time, I hope the original purpose of this movement is never overshadowed. Every time any movement gets that big, emotions run high, different voices emerge, and the conversation can become more complex. My hope is that the focus will always remain on the students and the future they are asking us to build.”Pearle captioned the post, “The comment section is a reflection of my freedom of speech.” He later disabled comments as criticism mounted.
Comment from ‘Failed Filmmaker’
The debate intensified after Pearle shared a series of Instagram stories responding to those criticizing her stance. One of the posts referred to a “failed filmmaker”, which many believed was aimed at veteran director Siby Malayil.Pearle wrote: “My post should have come with a trigger warning I guess! It’s made a lot of people uncomfortable! It’s made so many people want safety and not violence. I wonder who these people are. A failed filmmaker who is now writing a 10 page screenplay on my 4 page post. And yes, my favorite color is saffron! I think I like our Indian flag better.“
Joe Sibi Malayil defends his father
Pearle’s Instagram stories drew a strong response from Joe Sibi Malayil, son of filmmaker Siby Malayil.Responding via his own Instagram stories, Joe wrote: “Hey mom, this ‘failed filmmaker’ is my dad. Check who you’re dealing with first. How lazy do you have to be to read 7 slides? You expect 5.7 million followers to read your half-baked diplomacy and 7 slides is too much for you? Since you made it personal, let the games begin. ‘That failed filmmaker’ didn’t raise a spineless son, unlike your father who raised a coward. PS his name is Siby Malayil. ahead Do your best.”
Mareena Michael Kurisingal talks about healing and grace
In another story related to the event, actor Mareena Michael Kurisingal shared a heartfelt message, thanking everyone who stood by her in the past few days. She said the discussion was never about putting down another individual, but about healing, dignity and support for people who have been abused online.She wrote: “This isn’t about winning. This is about healing… To everyone who has ever been bullied, mocked, silenced or made to feel invisible for speaking your truth or just being genuine, this is for you AND today I feel seen.”Referring to Pearle Maaney, Mareena added: “You once said to me, ‘I didn’t even know you existed.’ That’s okay. Recognition is not the measure of a person’s worth. And ironically, we’re having this conversation today because your own words made people pay attention, not to who I am, but to how you chose to respond. Sometimes, it’s not about who knew who. It’s about who handled criticism gracefully.”