Rising Star is like any other typical reality singing contest. Based in India, the show is now on its third season and has been running its third episode when a major controversy sparked.
It started when two male contestants, Shikhar Rastogi, and Kunal Bojewar, faced the judges -- Shankar Mahadevan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Neeti Mohan -- to perform their act as a singing duo. Part of their performance included a confession of their admiration for Neeti, whom they described in their song, as per Latestly.
But, unfortunately, the duo used offensive words to describe Neeti on live television of Rising Star season 3. The reports stated that the contestants called Neeti "kadak" and "Raapchik in a laal saree." According to India, these words are usually used to describe the female body, so the singer scolded the men for their choice of language.
Neeti ranted, also on live TV, that they won't allow for this behavior on Rising Star season 3 as it verged on sexual harassment and disrespect for women. She also threatened the boys to disqualify their performance.
"No one can talk to me, or any girl like this in this country or any country," the singer said. "We three judges don't approve this, the show doesn't approve this, the channel doesn't approve this was of talking."
After Neeti's strong words, the contestants appeared shaken and distraught, but the show continued. Suddenly, Neeti broke out laughing and admitted it was all a prank to stir up and scare Shikar. They were all in on the drama except the helpless male performer.
But following the segment, viewers of Rising Star posted their disappointment on Twitter. The judges received a backlash from the prank because it made light of a serious issue.
Some netizens were particularly upset at Neeti, who has many female followers and professes that she represents all girls. They thought it was inappropriate that she was part of the prank to treat sexual harassment as a joke.
Netizens also called out Colors TV to do something about this controversial prank. However, instead of pulling the plug or sanctioning the people concerned, the network even ran a teaser pushing viewers to vote for Shikhar and Kunal.
The male duo made it to the next round of Rising Star season 3. The judges made them perform "Tera Yaar Hoon Main" for a second time, and they passed the auditions with flying colors.
