Voices

Grow up, celebs! Dear movie stars and politicians, please stop treating journalists like kids!

DailyBiteMay 2, 2019 | 18:21 IST

To all celebrities concerned, for once and for all, stop infantilising journalists who ask uncomfortable questions!

There must be respectable ways to skirt an issue. But treating the journalist as an endearing kid — forced by his or her bosses to ask an uncomfortable question — is not one of them. And by 'respectable', we mean respectable for both the journalist and the celebrity.

Yes, there are times when journalists, too, get swayed by their fanboy or fangirl moments.

But thwarting a question by something beyond debate is just obnoxious.

And two such incidents just happened back to back.

When Moon Moon Sen was asked about violence in Asansol, she said she didn’t know because she got her bed tea late. Fine — but then, she countered the journalist by saying, “You are too young to know about poll violence in Bengal.”

This comment was absolutely unnecessary because one can’t do anything about age. And not all those who know about the CPM’s poll violence machinery were born during their regime. People get to know by reading books, watching movies, hearing older people speak, etc. So, this hyper-empiricism actually holds no water!

The MP could have just said that poll violence in West Bengal is mainly a political inheritance (which the Trinamool couldn’t shake off). Commenting on the age of the journalist — and thereby hinting at her supposed political immaturity — is the straw that broke the camel’s back because journalists, on a day-to-day basis, have to deal with a lot of celeb tantrums. A sharp comeback on part of the journalist would only prove counterproductive.

Therefore, the debate ends there.

Then, the same thing happened again when a journalist asked Akshay Kumar about his nationality — whether he went to cast his vote, etc. A Bollywood superstar who is famous for his onscreen and off-screen nationalistic avatars is reportedly not in possession of an Indian voter card. So, what’s wrong in asking a question? You could simply say, ‘No comments’. You smile politely and excuse yourself if you are not comfortable answering.

But no — what did you do? You politely showed the door with a patronising remark, “Chaliye beta”.

What is this excessive modesty that — very dangerously — treads on the borderline between politeness and unprofessionalism? Who is whose beta, can you please explain?

A journalist is just doing his or her job. If he/she doesn’t get a byte, that’s okay. They don’t need a condescension prize instead.

Also Read: Bed Tea Vs Bedlam: The importance of being Moon Moon Sen in West Bengal today

Last updated: May 02, 2019 | 18:21
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