Celebrity chef Redzuawan Ismail has found himself in hot water over a comment on Instagram, where he described a gown worn by Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai as her “carrying kavadi on herself”.
According to news reports, Redzuawan, better known as Chef Wan, is now under investigation after police received a complaint against him.
The remark was reportedly made in the comment section of a Bollywood entertainment website’s Instagram page, which featured a photo of Aishwarya sporting a silver-and-blue gown created by Indian fashion house Falguni Shane Peacock.
Sentul district police chief Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari confirmed that a report was lodged against the chef and an investigation is being conducted by the Bukit Aman police headquarters.
“The case was given to the Classified Investigations Unit because it touches on 3R (religion, race, or royalty),” he said as quoted by Astro Awani.
Harapan Daily in an article claimed Redzuawan is being investigated under Section 298 of the Penal Code for deliberately hurting religious feelings and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.
Redzuawan has since issued a public apology on his Instagram account, saying he did not intend to insult any religion.
He said he made the comment as Aishwarya’s gown reminded him of peacock feathers that are widely used on kavadi - religious objects carried by devotees - during the Thaipusam festival.
“Oh my god, not in a million years. My true intention was not to be racist or insult the religion!
“It is a sin for anyone to think and accuse me of that when my true intention was only to just relate to that festival as (a) famous festival in this nation.
“Honestly, that was my true intention… not even to mock her, except I knew I was also joking to make people laugh as the dress is so huge… and it does look like a peacock,” he said.
‘Comments can easily be misunderstood’
Redzuawan also said he would no longer comment on issues pertaining to race and religion.
“In these days of social media, I realise the risk you take when you make any comments out there as easily it can be misunderstood for the wrong reasons, even (if) one does not always mean what one is saying.
“Better put my mouth in the right place!” he said.
On the police report lodged against him, the celebrity chef said he had been contacted by the authorities and told them he would provide his statement after returning from vacation.
Redzuawan then lamented how a joke could easily be turned into something else altogether.
“My mind kept thinking all night. Am I that stupid to do that, not realising it? Or am I that careless to cause all this mess to my nation?” - Mkini
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