Mel Gibson, Aishwarya Rai: Five celebs who have been caught in ‘racist’ controversy

The latest Kalyan Jewellers advertisement featuring Aishwarya Rai, hence, courted controversy with the picturisation of a black, emaciated kid holding an oversized umbrella for the former Miss World.

A group comprising a feminist activist, a former chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights among others have written an open letter to slam the former beauty queen’s recent print ad, which they felt also promoted child labour. “We wish to convey our dismay at the concept of this advertisement, and that you have, perhaps unthinkingly, associated with such a regressive portrayal of a child to sell a product,” the letter read.

Aishwarya’s publicist, however, later reacted to the whole issue and said that the actual image was changed by the brand. They even attached the actual image that was taken to the reply as a proof.

Also read – Aishwarya Rai responds to letter on ‘racist’ ad’, says picture was changed

This is not the first time that a celebrated actor has been involved in such a ‘racist’ controversy. There have been other instances too, where the celebrities fell prey to racism.

1. Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty had to bear the brunt of not being fair-skinned in the 5th season of celebrity ‘Bigg Brother’ in Los Angeles. Jade Goody, Jo O’Meara and Danielle Lloyd made remarks about Shilpa Shetty that were deemed to have racist connotations. While Shilpa Shetty went on to win the series, the race row became an international news scandal and there was a huge backlash against the show.

“Why do they hate me? Why am I detested? I feel like I’m losing my dignity. I’m the only one they are mean to, I don’t know why, nobody is mean to anyone else except me. I’m scared to say anything else. They’ve pushed me to the brink,” Shilpa Shetty, with tears in her eyes, was quoted as saying.

“I’m not racist, but I can see why it has had the impact it’s had. I can see why it looks like bullying. I’m disgusted in myself for saying what I have just seen myself saying. I do not approve of any of my actions and I do not approve of the words that came out of my mouth,” Jade had said after getting evicted.

2. Roger Moore, who portrayed James Bond in seven films, had come under fire for a Paris Match interview in which he scoffed at the idea of Idris Elba portraying the super-spy.

“Although James may have been played by a Scot, a Welshman and an Irishman, I think he should be ‘English-English’. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting idea, but unrealistic,” he said

Moore was hence slammed on Twitter for his racist remarks on Elba. Moore responded to the backlash, claiming his comments about Elba were ‘lost in translation.’ “An interview I gave to Paris Match implies I said something racist about Idris Elba. That is simply untrue. #Lost in translation,” he tweeted.

3. There was a complaint against Hollywood actress Katie Hopkins after she shockingly compared migrants to “cockroaches” and insisted she “doesn’t care if migrants die while trying to leave their countries by boat”.

And while many took huge offence to her comments the Society of Black Lawyers reported her directly to the Metropolitan Police Commissioners Office.

4. Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen was slammed after he posted a racist tweet against US President Barack Obama for not attending a soldier’s funeral. “Barry Satera Kenya you won’t attend a soldier’s funeral across the street that you killed yet you have time for brackets? sad,” Sheen had tweeted.

Barry Satera Kenya u won’t attend a soldier’s funeral uhkros da street that u kild yet u hav time 4 brackets? s a d c http://t.co/KM1in5MPio

— Charlie Sheen (@charliesheen) March 19, 2015

The tweet sparked an outburst from the twitterati. People said that mentioning Kenya in the tweet was racist. Sheen clarified by tweeting again saying he was paraphrasing a joke Obama had cracked earlier.

I just repeated a joke the president told last week! http://t.co/FG0k40t4Un So is he bad to? c #KeepIt💯 #FoSpeech http://t.co/zoCtJyo4bZ — Charlie Sheen (@charliesheen) March 19, 2015

5. Back in 2006, during a drunk driving arrest, Hollywood actor Mel Gibson hurled racist comments on the streets of Los Angeles about his hatred towards Jewish people. Gibson verbally attacked the officers with anti-Semitics and stated that Jews were responsible for the wars in this country.

This was not the only time Gibson had an outburst against the Jews. In 2010, during the divorce from his now ex-wife Oksana Grigorieva, Gibson had hurled racist remarks.

(With Inputs)