Actor Siddharth Writes Apology Letter To Saina Nehwal Over 'Rude Joke'

New Delhi: Actor Siddharth Anand has apologized to badminton sensation Saina Nehwal after his "sexist" post which sparked social media uproar.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter on Tuesday night, he tweeted an apology letter, where he asserted he was trying to make a "rude joke'' and added that his tone and language couldn't be justified.

''Dear Saina, I want to apologize to you for the rude joke that I wrote as a response to a tweet of yours a few days ago. I may disagree with you on many things, but even my disappointment or anger when I read your tweet, cannot justify my tone and words. I know I have more grace in me than that. As for the joke if a joke needs to be explained, then it wasn't a very good joke, to begin with. Sorry about a joke that didn't land," the letter read.

"I, however, must insist my wordplay and humor had none of the malicious intent that so many people from all quarters have attributed to it. I am a staunch feminist ally and I assure you there was no gender implied in my tweet and certainly no intent to attack you as a woman. I hope we can put this behind us and that you will accept my letter. You will always be my Champion. Honestly, Siddharth," the letter read further.

The controversy began after Siddharth responded to a tweet by Nehwal over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security breach last week.

Nehwal, who joined the BJP in 2020, last week, Saina Nehwal took to Twitter to share her thoughts on the security breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"No Nation can claim itself to be safe if the security of its own PM gets compromised. I condemn, in the strongest words possible, the cowardly attack on PM Modi by anarchists (sic)," she wrote.

To this, Siddharth, a critic of Modi, quoted Saina's tweet and wrote, "Subtle cock champion of the world... Thank God we have protectors of India. Shame on you #Rihanna (sic)."

The alleged sexual wordplay on Nehwal's sport attracted condemnation from all sides of the political spectrum as the 6 January tweet gained traction over the weekend (badminton players use a shuttlecock).

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