Vijay Deverakonda Clarifies Remarks After Backlash Over Controversial Speech
May 3, 2025 Published by rajeshe092eb6a68
Vijay Deverakonda has found himself at the center of a controversy following his speech at the pre-release event of Suriya’s upcoming film Retro. While the actor has been basking in praise for his recent Kingdom teaser and its first single, the remarks he made during the Hyderabad event have sparked criticism and legal trouble.
On Friday, members of the Tribal Lawyers Association filed a complaint against Deverakonda at the SR Nagar police station, invoking the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. They alleged that his reference to “Pak-sponsored terrorists” as “tribals” was “insensitive and dangerous,” and demanded an unconditional public apology from the actor.
Reacting to the backlash, Vijay took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday morning to issue a clarification. In his post, he wrote, “I wish to sincerely clarify: there was absolutely no intention to hurt or target any community, especially our Scheduled Tribes, who I deeply respect and consider an integral part of our country.”
The Kingdom actor explained that his usage of the term “tribe” was in the historical and dictionary context. “The word ‘tribe,’ as I used it, was meant in the sense of how human societies were organized centuries ago – into tribes and clans often in conflict. It was never a reference to the Scheduled Tribes classification, which was introduced only in the mid-20th century,” he added.
Deverakonda expressed regret over the misunderstanding and emphasized that his intent was to promote unity. “My only aim was to speak of peace, progress, and togetherness. I remain committed to using my platform to uplift and unify – never to divide,” he concluded.
The controversy has sparked mixed reactions online, with some defending the actor’s intent while others continue to call for greater sensitivity in public discourse. As of now, police have acknowledged receiving the complaint and are expected to examine the matter further.
To my dear brothers ?? pic.twitter.com/QBGQGOjJBL
— Vijay Deverakonda (@TheDeverakonda) May 3, 2025
