‘It was me, not minister Keerthana’: Malaysian woman Vinosha Ravi says viral video was misused to spread false narratives, files police complaint | Chennai News
CHENNAI: A Malaysian woman, identified as Vinosha Ravi, has come forward to clarify that she, and not Tamil Nadu industries minister S Keerthana, is the person seen in a viral video that sparked a political row over the minister’s clothing choices.In a video posted on her Instagram account, Vinosha said she wanted to clear the confusion, stating plainly that the woman being questioned over her attire is not the minister but herself. She pointed out that those making the comparison were likely unfamiliar with the difference between her and Keerthana, since they were not Malaysian.Vinosha said she has since approached the Malaysian police and filed a complaint over the matter.She described being deeply hurt by the episode, explaining that she was simply getting out of her car on her way to work when someone recorded and circulated the clip without her knowledge.She said the reactions to the video had been mixed, with some offering support and others posting negative and critical comments, including screenshots taken to mock her further.She said the clip had been edited and misused to spread false narratives, but that she had not let it break her down, even though the possibility of the video going viral had worried her. Her family and friends, she said, had reassured her that she was not at fault and had nothing to be ashamed of.Vinosha also pushed back against comments suggesting she should dress more modestly, noting that her outfit was appropriate for her job in Malaysia and that people criticised her regardless of what she wore. She said she had not been named or referenced in the original video at all.Calling the episode emotionally exhausting, Vinosha said she was now stepping back from the controversy and would not be posting further updates on social media, while thanking those who had supported her and urging people to stop sharing the video.The controversy began after a video showing a woman getting out of a car went viral, with several social media posts drawing a comparison with Keerthana, the first-time TVK minister and Sivakasi MLA, due to a resemblance.
A viral video of a woman getting out of a car sparked social media comparisons with Tamil Nadu minister S Keerthana, triggering a political controversy.
Keerthana had slammed the posts targeting the woman over her clothes, calling it evidence of a “fragile, regressive mindset” and clarifying that she was not the woman in the video. She had also said, “even if it were, why should it matter?”, questioning why a woman’s clothes or appearance should be treated as matters for public trial, and had accused followers of a rival leader of resorting to misogyny after failing to challenge the TVK on policy or governance.
