'I am the victim', Chef Wan seeks legal advice over 'kavadi' remarks

Celebrity chef Redzuawan Ismail has expressed that he considers himself as the victim over a comment on Instagram, where he described a gown worn by Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai as her “carrying kavadi on herself”.

Taking to Instagram, Redzuawan, better known as Chef Wan, reiterated that it did not occur to him to be racist or to insult Hinduism.

The 66-year-old, who is now under investigation after police received a complaint against him, divulged that he has spoken to his lawyer about his legal options.

“My good intentions were suddenly misinterpreted. If I have a history of instigating racism on my social media, that’s different. (But in this case) I have never,” he said in an Instagram post yesterday.

“As usual, those who are racist have their attitudes and what they have instigated in the past.

“The investigation will look into all that! I’m brave because I speak the truth. I will definitely stand on truth and justice,” he said, adding that he will leave the probe to the police.

The remark was reportedly made in the comment section of a Bollywood entertainment website’s Instagram page, which featured a photo of Aishwarya sporting a silver-and-blue gown created by Indian fashion house Falguni Shane Peacock.

Sentul district police chief Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari confirmed that a report was lodged against the chef and an investigation is being conducted by the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

“The case was given to the Classified Investigations Unit because it touches on 3R (religion, race, or royalty),” he said as quoted by Astro Awani.

Harapan Daily in an article claimed Redzuawan is being investigated under Section 298 of the Penal Code for deliberately hurting religious feelings and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Redzuawan has since issued a public apology on his Instagram account, saying he did not intend to insult any religion.

He said he made the comment as Aishwarya’s gown reminded him of peacock feathers that are widely used on kavadi - religious objects carried by devotees - during the Thaipusam festival.

“Too often we see worshippers carrying kavadi in so many sizes, some in huge sizes. Often the most beautifully decorated ones win the hearts of so many people.

“When I went to the festivals before this to film my television travel show, I looked for the most beautiful and heavy ones (kavadi) as the burden is not easy to lift too.

“Their sacrifices really amaze and inspire me.”

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