Anu Malik Steps Down As Judge In Indian Idol 11

Jyothi Venkatesh

Music composer Anu Malik has stepped down as a judge of Indian Idol 11. According to Indian Express.com, this move comes in the wake of controversy around multiple sexual harassment accusations against him. After numerous social media outbursts and negative trends, Anu Malik decided to step out of the show. He also shared how he is mentally disturbed at the moment. Anu recently met the makers and shared his decision with them, and they agreed to him quitting his post as a judge. The channel is now on the lookout for a replacement. Since this weekend’s episode has already been shot, Anu Malik will appear on the show as a judge but will be missing from the subsequent episodes.

It was only last week that Malik had taken to Instagram to deny all the allegations levelled against him. He had posted, “It has been over a year that I have been accused of something that I haven’t done. I have been silent all this while as I was waiting for the truth to surface on its own. But I realize that my silence on the matter has been misconstrued as my weakness.”

“Ever since the false and unverified allegations were levelled against me, it has not only ruined my reputation, but affected me and my family’s mental health, left us traumatised, and tarnished my career. I feel helpless, like I am being cornered and suffocated,” Anu Malik continued.

He also questioned why these allegations weren’t brought up before. “Why wasn’t this spoken about before? Why do these allegations resurface only when I am back on television, which is currently my only source of livelihood?” He vehemently denied all the allegations and wrote, “Being a father of two daughters, I can’t imagine committing the acts that I am accused of, let alone do it.”

Singer Sona Mohapatra had earlier accused Anu Malik of predatory behaviour. Singer Shweta Pandit accused him of misbehaving with her when she was only 15 years old and Neha Bhasin had also shared how she ran away from ‘his strange moves’ when she was 21.Anu Malik denies sexual harassment allegations, signs off stating ‘I can’t imagine committing the acts’

Incidentally, all these accusations emerged last year in the wake of the MeToo movement, and then too Anu Malik disassociated himself from the singing reality show. While there was buzz that the channel had removed him, Malik had told indianexpress.com, “I have issued a statement to the channel ‘I, Anu Malik, have decided to take a break from Indian Idol as I am currently unable to focus on my work on the show.’ The channel has been kind to agree for the same.”

As soon as the channel announced his return to the latest season, netizens have been protesting against the show, threatening to boycott it till the composer is removed. Sona Mahapatra has also questioned how Anu Malik could be allowed to be a judge on national television.

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Tags: Bollywood, Bollywood News, Bollywood Updates, Television, Telly News, Anu Malik,  Indian Idol 11