Actor Karunas,, who took a selfie with a fan during late Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s funeral, has come under heavy criticism from outraged fans. The photo shows Karunas smiling into the camera alongside one fan. Behind him, crowds can be seen milling around the burial spot.
At a time when the state is in mourning for the loss of a revered leader, and when Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi was criticised for smiling at the funeral, Karunas’ selfie appeared to be an extraordinary act of disrespect.
A fact which was pointed out by this social media user.
@NadigarsangamP #karunas #Ripamma this is crime. She gave u all u have u didn’t wait fr a day to click a selfie. Unforgivable offense pic.twitter.com/pFRJ7b1cyT
— Merlin Daniel~MVD (@merlin4ur) December 7, 2016
@sayhi2ck @prady2407 @vikatan இறுதி ஊர்வலத்தில் பல்ல காமிச்சுட்டு செல்பி. உயிரோட இருக்கும்போது இருந்த பயம் மறந்துபோய்டுச்சு போல #Karunas
— GSM (@Mani23Tweets) December 7, 2016
Karunas is not only an office bearer with the Nadigar Sangam, but also a legislative member. He has now come under heavy criticism for not excercising caution, and instead succumbing to this fan’s demand.
While the jury is still out on selfies, funeral selfies are universally deemed inappropriate. Yet, many fans throng celebrity funeral ceremonies in a bid to get a photo with their idols and some subsequent social media fame.
Read: Manorama is dead, but first let me take a selfie
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Responding to the criticism, Karunas told Vikatan, “People are criticising me on social media without knowing the reason behind it. During the last rites of Amma, many people shamelessly approached me for selfies. I refused. The young man in the photo kept begging me for a photograph. He told me that he was from a village, and would never again get an opportunity to take a photo with me again. This is why I obliged.”
He further said, “Why don’t you all ask the people who asked me for selfies if this was the appropriate time for a photo? Why am I being held responsible?”
Karunas also said he had a lot of enemies, and blamed them for the uproar, “One of them must have instigated this!”