Hardik Pandya has come out and apologized for the comments he made on the episode of Koffee With Karan which aired on January 6. The Indian all-rounder has been facing widespread criticism for remarks which have been unanimously deemed to be "sexist" and "misogynistic".
Karan Johar's famous talk-show, Koffee With Karan achieved a landmark feat last Sunday when the filmmaker hosted cricketers Pandya and KL Rahul. This was the first time in its 14-year history that sportsmen got to sit on the couch that is famous for publicising "conjectures" and creating controversy.
Pandya's attitude towards women was largely derogatory throughout the show as he kept bragging about his life off the pitch. He revealed that the day he lost his virginity, he came home and told his parents, "Aj kar ke aya."
"When I lost my virginity, I came home and said, 'Aj kar ke aya' (I had sex today)."
He went on to narrate an incident at a party he visited with his parents where they asked him which of the women present there had Pandya been with.
"There was a party where my parents are sitting and asked me 'acha tera wala kaun sa hai' [who woman present here have you been with?] so I said 'yeh, yeh, yeh (pointing out multiple women), mai sabke saath kuchh na kuchh raha hai mera' [I have been involved with all these women] and they were like 'Waah! proud of you beta' [Wow! proud of you son]," Pandya boasted.
The 25-year-old also said that he watches women move and does not remember their names at night clubs.
"I like to watch and observe how they (women) move. I'm little from the black side so I have to see how they move first."
Karan then asked the cricketers what happens if two of them like the same woman. To this, Rahul replied, "Up to the woman"; but was interrupted by Pandya who said, "Nahi nahi aisa kuch nahi hai, talent pe hota hai. Jisko mila woh leke jao. It is on talent. [No no, it is nothing like that, it depends on talent. Whoever gets her, takes her. It is on talent."
Facing severe backlash for his reckless comments, Pandya has since come out and apologized saying that he "got a bit carried away."
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) January 9, 2019
Both the cricketers are currently in Australia and a part of the Indian squad that created history by becoming the first Asian team to win a Test series Down Under.