Celina Jaitley recalls receiving 'threats' after supporting LGBTQ+ community

Celina Jaitley has been quite vocal about her support of the LGBTQ+ community. However, the actress had to face serious repercussions for voicing her support to the community. During a recent conversation with Masala about Pride Month, the actress revealed how she received threats from people for supporting the movement.

Celina is one such actress who has been quite vocal about her support of the LGBTQ+ community. But, things did not turn in her favour when she lent her support. The No Entry actress shared that it was the death of her makeup artist who was gay that shook her and changed her mind.

During a recent conversation with Masala about Pride Month, Celina said, “Probier Da (Celina’s make-up artist) was a mother figure to me in my struggling years as a 15-year-old model. He was my fairy godfather. His death shook me. His last conversation with me, just a week prior to him passing away, was about his fears of old age as a gay man, of not having children or a life partner and his wanting to see me get married to a nice man.

All his life had been spent in pursuit of happiness, which he could never achieve due



to the stigma associated with being gay. While all his fears went away in one tragic incident, it changed something inside me forever.”

Adding, the actress shared how nobody from the industry belonging to the community, extended their support. She explained that they were worried that their association with the actress me would make their identities vulnerable to exposure.

“I received threats from people around the country. Even LGBTQIA colleagues from the film industry turned their backs on me because they were worried any association with me would make their identities vulnerable to exposure. I supported LGBTQIA organisations, events and film festivals despite the threats. Due to the dangerous threats, I’d to hire extra personal security amounting to lakhs on my expense in order to continue my work. Some organizations I supported let me down when 377 was revoked. I was also hurt by the very people I stood up for when no one wanted to associate themselves with the community. From being questioned about my own sexuality to threats from extremists and being dropped from friend circles and films, I’ve experienced it all,” she added.