‘We never cared’: Amaal Mallik reacts on #Metoo allegations against uncle Anu Malik, but gets stern response from Sona Mohapatra for comments on movement

Amaal Mallik doesn’t count his uncle Anu Malik as his family and that he ‘never cared’ about sexual harassment allegations against him though he felt a ‘little humiliated’ by it. However, the singer-music composer’s views on #Metoo movement got a strong reply from his close friend, singer Sona Mohapatra.

READ: Sona Mohapatra Slams Sonu Nigam After Support For Anu Malik Over #MeToo Allegations And His Statement About Pakistani Singers

In an interview with a portal, Amaal calling his uncle’s case a ‘little humiliating’, asserted he doesn’t ‘count as family’ anyone except his father Daboo Mallik, mother Jyoti and brother, singer Armaan Mallik. However, he said that Anu has a ‘family of his own’ and that it might have been hard for them too. Amaal continued that his family ‘never cared’ when asked if they spoke with the veteran composer over the controversy.  

He also said that the ‘man with two daughters’ was insulted and removed from a reality show, but it was important to go with ‘full force’ on it and not forgotten after a few months. 

In the interview, the musician also stated that he completely supports the #Metoo movement, but added that it ‘goes a little wrong’ when people take it on social media, and stressed on the importance to 'achieve what you can’ through law. Amaal wondered why the person alleged someone in the first place if they didn’t intend to take it forward. He added that women have more power than men, and that they should take the judicial route instead of social media. 

Sona was among the celebrities who had called Anu Malik a ‘predator’, apart from naming Kailash Kher. Amaal said that he is close to Sona and that if raised her voice against his uncle, there might have been a reason. He felt that in such cases when there is a reason, they should approach the court. 

The singer, however, despite their friendship wasn’t not too pleased with the response coming from ‘nice guys’ like him. Giving the example of how a family would react by coming together as a collective if a family member sexually abused a child, Sona called #Metoo a ‘rare occasion in history’ where women ‘found strength’ to share stories of harassment which they would’ve otherwise ‘swept under the carpet’ to avoid shame. She called it a ‘call out to change a systematic problem.’  

She asked Amaal to ‘educate yourself better’ and not just ‘shoot your mouth off’ and rather observe facts, statistics and patterns to understand the ‘deep rooted culture’ they are seeking to change. 

Sona countered his statement of taking legal action by asking him why he could similarly not approach authorities over the hard time their family faced, something they have often spoken about.

However, she concluded by saying she likes him and has ‘deepest affection and empathy’ for his journey and counts on him to understand the issue better and articulate it appropriately, to stand up and fight along with women.  

Amaal, on the other hand, wondered how his quote went from ‘where to where’ and that his ‘simple response’ was ‘misquoted’. The music composer stated that his personal struggle wasn’t something that could be fought judicially unlike a case where a woman can take legal recourse against someone who has misbehaved with them. 

Sona responded that he shouldn’t go around ‘judging’ them and telling the meida to share their ‘personal story’ as it was important to understand the situations of many who were already fighting a legal battle or were wary.

READ: Referring To Me As 'wife', Speaks Volumes About Your Conditioning: Sona Mohapatra Hits Out At Sonu Nigam

Amaal responded he was with Sona on the issue and reiterated his stand of wanting to see the measures to punish the accused.