Arunabh Kumar, CEO, The Viral Fever has been under the radar ever since a woman, under the pseudonym, Indian Fowler, accused him of sexual harassment through her post on Medium. The woman, who claims to be an ex employee of the company, alleged that Arunabh molested and harassed her for months.
In her post, she recalled the several instances where Arunabh would ask for sexual favours, make uncouth remarks, or behave inappropriately. Throughout all the mental and physical torture, the woman in question could not quit as she was bound by a legal contract. He colleagues did not support her either, she wrote.
Her revelation was followed by several other women coming forward to speak about their unpleasant encounter with Arunabh. However, the CEO has labelled all the accusations against him as baseless, and also asked Medium to take down the post as the accusations are false. Speaking to MumbaiMirror, Arunabh cleared his stand saying:
The kind of insinuations the FB post makes are untrue. I am a heterosexual, single man and when I find a woman sexy, I tell her she’s sexy. I compliment women. Is that wrong? Having said that, I am very particular about my behavior – I will approach a woman, but never force myself.
Further, TVF reportedly denied having any female employee from Muzaffarpur in the last 3 years. Arunabh also said that he would request the woman making these allegations to either report the matter to the police or to the HR team at TVF where she allegedly worked. He told MumbaiMirror:
I unconditionally and unequivocally deny all these allegations. Social media has already declared me an offender, but I am ready to address all the allegations against me. I am open to receiving a police complaint so that I can respond legally as well. TVF is bigger than me and if there is a remote chance that I have done any wrong, let me be persecuted.
Biswapati Sarkar, the creative director at TVF dismissed the allegations against Arunabh with the following tweets:
An image is tarnished. Some people will still believe fiction over facts and refuse to accept the simple truth.
— Biswapati Sarkar (@ChhotaThalaiva) March 13, 2017
Nidhi Bisht, a known face on the Indian web series scene, and writer-director at TVF wrote:
My side. pic.twitter.com/cS6tfD2dVd
— Nidhi NEETU Bisht (@EkThapaTiger) March 13, 2017
Stand up comedienne Aditi Mittal was outraged at the news and rebuked the industry:
And THAT my friends is why “there are so few female comics” a question that I get CONSTANTLY asked as if I should have the ans to the ques.
— Aditi Mittal (@awryaditi) March 13, 2017
Journos calling all the women in comedy to go on record– NO. Call the men. See how much they defend their brohood now. Enough is enough.
— Aditi Mittal (@awryaditi) March 13, 2017
All India Bakchod (AIB) founders, however, spoke about the need for organisations to educate their employees about the ways to deal with such a situation:
I know many founders are reading this right now – do a townhall tomorrow. Tell your employees that there is a way to address their problems.
— Tanmay Bhat (@thetanmay) March 13, 2017
What can I do to reassure the people that work with/for me? Is this a safe, fair space for them? And if it’s not, what has to change?
— Rohan (@mojorojo) March 13, 2017
Sickened by all the allegations coming to the fore. There’s no place for such behaviour in 2017.
— Ashish Shakya (@stupidusmaximus) March 13, 2017
Sorabh Pant, founder, East India Comedy, wrote:
FYI: this is not about comedy.
Or, TVF (who I really like) V. EIC V. AIB.
This is about something way bigger.
And, it can’t be ignored.— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) March 13, 2017