Mumbai Press Club backs boycott of Kangana Ranaut, says 'will examine the option of pressing charges of abuse'

Mumbai Press Club on Friday said it fully backs decision of Entertainment Journalists Guild to boycott actor Kangana Ranaut for refusing to apologise for lashing out at a PTI reporter during a press conference.

Members of Mumbai Press Club said in a statement that y strongly condemn Ranaut's langu and behaviour towards news media, particularly towards PTI journalist Justin Rao. On Sunday, Ranaut launched an attack on reporter even before he could ask his question during a song launch event of her film JudgeMentall Hai Kya.

RE: Is Kangana Ranaut's Latest 'Judgementall Hai Kya' Poster A Reference To Her Controversies? Here's Ekta Kapoor's View

She accused journalist of running a "smear campaign" against her and her last release Manikarnika. Inste of making amends, release said, Rangoli Chandel, Ranaut's sister and manr, launched an "abusive" attack against news media on Twitter.

While JudgeMentall Hai Kya producer Ekta Kapoor apologised for incident, Ranaut has refused to do so.

" Entertainment Journalists' Guild, which first raised issue, has pointed out that this is t first time Ms Ranaut and her manr-sister have insulted and abused journalists. It has become part of ir unprofessional conduct," release said.

" Mumbai Press Club stands fully behind Guild to demand Ms Ranaut tender an apology to Justin Rao and or journalists for her behaviour. We also fully support ir call for a complete boycott of her events," it said.

Mumbai Press Club said it h examined foot of press conference. While reporter was "fully composed", Ranaut was abusive and insulting even though as a journalist he was fully within his rights to criticise her work. "A job of a journalist is to provide independent assessment of entertainment content; and critical commentary cant be reason eugh to lose control, turn against media and hurl s," release said, ding that if necessary members of club will take up matter with "various associations of filmmakers."

"Since this has been a serial problem, we will also examine option of pressing criminal charges of abuse, defamation and intimidation against Kangana Ranaut; as well as seek civil compensation for preventing journalists from carrying on ir professional work," release said.

RE: Kangana Ranaut-Journalist Ugly Spat: Ashoke Pandit Backs Kangana Amidst Her Explosive Media Attack, Levels Allegations

journalist denied allegations and actor's claim that he personally messd her and spent three hours in her vanity van. He said he met actor briefly for an interview and re were personal messs. On Thursday, Ranaut posted a video saying that she would t apologise.

Kangana Ranaut’s vocate accuses journalists of defaming her, Rangoli ds ‘we will close down this shop’

Sidharth Malhotra reacts to Kangana Ranaut’s spat with scribe: ‘Media, actors must maintain professionalism’