A reality TV task turned uncomfortable when a male contestant untied a female model's dress in front of others. Another contestant later called it a 'fun act', leaving the model in tears and worried that her dress would come off.
Shibna, 21, was later evicted from the show after roughly two weeks as a wildcard contestant.
In a post-eviction video, Shibna questioned whether being a model meant she had to accept what happened. 'Just because I am a model, does that mean I am ready for anything?' she asked. 'Does being a model mean that anyone can do anything to me and call it fun?'
How Her Dress Was Untied
The incident happened during a courtroom task on Bigg Boss Malayalam 8, when contestants Goutham Sasi and Sreelakshmi Arakkal interacted with the model's dress.
Goutham untied the garment, but the model quickly secured it at the front. Another contestant, Rahul, helped her fix it.
Sreelakshmi later apologised, calling the incident a 'fun act'. She stated that she did not intend to embarrass Shibna and acted out of boredom.
The model, visibly distressed, questioned how she was treated in a professional environment.
'My parents took care of me so well,' she said while crying. 'Now, some are not even giving me the consideration that I deserve, not even treating me better than dirt.'
She entered the show as a wildcard contestant and was eliminated on 27 September after about two weeks in the competition.
'I Couldn't Defend Myself'
After leaving the show, the model posted an emotional video thanking viewers and reflecting on her final days.
'Of course, I am sad. I had to leave the show at one of the most vulnerable yet strongest moments of my life,' she said. 'My only regret is that I couldn't defend myself.'
She explained that it was especially painful to learn that people she trusted spoke about her after she left.
'I never thought that the people I trusted so much would go behind my back and bully me. Rahul chettan was someone I trusted the most, but he said that I apologised before I even strategised,' she said.
'Eldho chettan also said that I would play any game and that I had caught hold of her. When people I trusted say such things about me when I am not there, I cannot defend myself.'
She then became emotional as she addressed what she viewed as a broader issue behind the controversy.
'I don't care that I was evicted. What hurts me is that I couldn't defend myself,' she said.
'Even now, when we live in a society that blames the victim, I feel that I should have been there. I should have defended myself.'
Host Mohanlal later addressed the incident during the weekend episode and apologised to the model on behalf of both contestants.
The model declined the apology while emphasising the incident's impact on her.
When Clothes Become a Joke
This incident is one of several where women's clothing became the subject of public 'jokes' or performances.
In 2017, Cuba Gooding Jr. lifted actress Sarah Paulson's dress during a PaleyFest panel. Paulson appeared startled and turned away.
Another widely reported example occurred during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, when Justin Timberlake removed part of Janet Jackson's costume, exposing her breast on live television.
Jackson later told David Letterman that the exposure was accidental and explained that she had another piece of clothing meant to cover her.
While the circumstances differ, each incident made women's clothing central to a highly public moment.
