The controversy surrounding the teaser of ‘Toxic’, directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring Yash, has escalated further.

After the teaser’s release, several viewers criticised its visuals as misogynistic, claiming that Geetu Mohandas had “lost her values after moving to another industry.” Actress Rima Kallingal and others had come forward in support of Geetu.

Now, producer and actor Vijay Babu has indirectly criticised the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), Geetu Mohandas and Rima Kallingal through a social media post.

Vijay Babu wrote on Facebook that the organisation is filled with “queens of double standards”. He added that they enjoy certain privileges and that he chooses to stay silent because of that. According to him, they show unity only when it is time to attack a man or men, but later disperse and go their own way.

Vijay Babu’s Facebook

“About the queens of double standards …..when it comes to stories they say ….

If we have to pin point and say stories of each one of them it won’t end …

Staying away from commenting ……since they have all the privilege all the time and twist words and actions according to their convenience all the time . They are women and so called collective whenever they want to attack a man / men they attack collectively in their own interests and then disperse till the next one arises , but don’t have any standards or practices for themselves .

No head … no tail … no ethics .., no policies …no by -law !!!! ….,just a whatsapp group formed to satisfy their personal interests from time to time which is best known to them.”

Why the teaser sparked backlash

The intimate scenes in the ‘Toxic’ teaser triggered major criticism on social media. Many argued that Geetu Mohandas, who had previously opposed misogyny in films like ‘Kasaba’, was now using the female body as a mass-appeal element in her own film.

Following the backlash, Geetu responded through an Instagram story, saying she had “Now I’ve said it” She reshared a reel posted by Rima Kallingal, which carried lines suggesting that “Chilling while people figure out female pleasure, consent, women playing systems, etc etc...”