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During Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's official visit to London, a Tamil community awards event planned as part of the London itinerary was called off after police raised safety concerns following advisories from the local authorities.
Vijay and his team are touring the UK for a week and intend to seek investments from Britain, besides researching successful models for establishing the Motor Sports City project in Tamil Nadu.
The event, which was scheduled to take place outside the iconic Shard skyscraper in London, saw hundreds of fans waiting for hours to meet the actor-turned politician. Vijay's team announced the cancellation over a loudspeaker, stating the reason as lack of police permission with regards to the safety of the gathering.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's IT wing shared an update on social media hours later, urging fans to avoid waiting outside the chief minister's hotel or trying to meet him, keeping in mind their safety. "We would be filled with love and heartfelt enthusiasm to meet the Honorable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay," it read. "However, keeping the safety of the public in mind and considering the request of the London Metropolitan Police, an unavoidable situation has arisen where the Honorable Chief Minister and Victorious Leader cannot meet with you. Therefore, with affection, we kindly request that no one attempt to meet him.
Furthermore, with humility, we request that you refrain from efforts such as waiting at the entrance of the hotel where the Victorious Leader is staying or along the route he will travel."
Vijay earlier attended the Michelin Le Mans Cup race at Silverstone, where he waved the green flag and was photographed reuniting with actor-racer Ajith Kumar in a moment that circulated widely on social media in Tamil Nadu.
The event cancellation comes days after remarks made by actor Vijay Sethupathi during a recent weekend episode of Bigg Boss Tamil 10 drew significant attention on social media. The actor's comments led to a section of viewers interpreting the comments as an indirect reference to the Tamil Nadu chief minister.
During the episode, while addressing contestant Shathiga about her time as house captain, Sethupathi made a broader comment about leadership.
“Making reckless promises and then, when problems and responsibilities arise, blaming the opposition and running away is not leadership. It is deception,” Sethupathi said.
While Sethupathi's remarks were in the context of the show and its contestants, many social media users interpreted the actor's comments as intended towards the state's Chief Minister Vijay. One netizen accused Sethupathi of creating "unnecessary social unrest", commenting that he should enter politics himself and face his opponents directly if he aimed to express political opinions.
While many users demanded an apology from Sethupathi, others pushed back and came to the actor's defence, arguing that his statement did not name any person.
To put an end to the speculations, Bigg Boss Tamil issued a clarification on social media, which read:
"The situations, conversations, expressions and interactions featured in the programme form part of its evolving narrative and are to be understood in the context in which they occur within the show.
No reference or expression in the programme should be construed as representing, endorsing or commenting upon any person, organisation, institution, ideology or circumstance outside the context of the programme.
Any interpretation or association beyond the programme and its intended entertainment context is neither intended nor endorsed.”
Sethupathi has not issued a personal statement on the controversy.