Singer and voice artist Chinmayi Sripaada has once again confronted online harassment, after a social media comment attempted to shame her over her past allegations of sexual harassment. The incident unfolded when a troll targeted her during an online discussion, claiming that she “could not save herself” in her earlier experience, and therefore should not advocate for others. The remark drew widespread attention, highlighting yet again how survivors of harassment are often re-traumatised when speaking out.
Troll targets Chinmayi over #MeToo testimony
Chinmayi has been a prominent voice in India’s #MeToo movement since 2018, when she publicly accused veteran lyricist and poet Vairamuthu of sexual harassment. While the allegation sparked significant discourse within Tamil cinema, it also invited sustained trolling, victim-blaming, and harassment against her online.
In the latest instance, the troll’s message attempted to undercut her credibility by implying that her advocacy was invalid because she was unable to stop what had happened to her.
Chinmayi screenshotted the comment, chose to call it out publicly, and responded that blaming survivors is one of the biggest reasons many remain silent. She asserted that the responsibility always lies with the perpetrator — never the victim. Her response was shared widely by supporters who praised her for confronting a culture of normalised misogyny.
Survivor shaming remains a persistent problem
The incident sparked fresh conversation online about how survivors are often told they are “at fault” for the violence they experienced. Chinmayi noted that such remarks cause emotional harm and can discourage others from seeking justice.
She emphasised that survivors do not owe silence to society, nor do they need to meet arbitrary expectations to be believed. The singer also stated that people who mock survivors reveal their own insensitivity rather than any truth about the survivor’s experience.
Women’s rights advocates pointed out that this pattern of trolling has become a common form of digital harassment, particularly when women speak about harassment involving influential men in the entertainment industry.
Chinmayi continues advocacy despite backlash
For years, Chinmayi has continued to raise awareness about consent, workplace safety, and power imbalance in the film industry. Despite facing retaliation — including professional barriers and prolonged online harassment — she has refused to withdraw her testimony.
In recent years, she has expanded her work outside playback singing, running a skincare enterprise and interacting frequently with her audience online. She welcomed twins in 2022 and has spoken openly about motherhood, navigating public life, and healing from trauma.
Her latest response once again reinforces her belief that survivors deserve dignity and support, not scrutiny and ridicule.
A conversation far from over
The latest episode underscores a larger conversation around survivor support systems in India. Experts note that public figures like Chinmayi play a crucial role in shifting cultural attitudes — but also face harsher consequences for speaking out.
The incident has once again sparked calls for stronger accountability against cyberbullying and improved frameworks to support survivors both legally and emotionally.