Ajith Kumar reacts to Karur stampede at Vijay’s TVK rally: We are all responsible

Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar has reacted to the Karur stampede that claimed 39 lives. The rally, organised by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by party president and superstar Vijay, was held on September 27, 2025.

Ajith, talking to The Hollywood Reporter India, said that people today “have become obsessed with gathering a crowd to show their clout.” Most of the victims from the tragic incident were between 18 and 30 years of age.

Though he didn’t make a direct mention, Ajith said that his contemporary Vijay alone isn’t responsible for the incident. “That individual alone isn’t responsible. We are all responsible, including the media,” he said.

“You have a crowd that goes to watch a cricket match, but you don’t see it happening it there. Why is it happening only with film personalities? These incidents project the film industry in a bad light.”

Ajith further expressed, “Yes, we want the love of the people. That’s what we work for. We work long hours on sets, hurt our body, spend sleepless nights, battle depression and stay away from family for their (fans) love. But, we don’t wish for these kind of incidents.“

The actor called the stampede “a collective failure.” “We are responsible for this, including myself.” He also stated that practice of gathering a large crowd shouldn’t be encouraged. “There are other ways of expressing love. Media shouldn’t encourage things such as the first-day-first-shows (FDFS). With a country of 1.4 billion people, gathering a crowd is a no brainer.”

ALSO READ: A horrific night for this journalist reporting the Karur stampede

Responding to the incident, Vijay had said that he had never, in his life, experienced a situation as painful as the one in Karur. The actor had also said that if Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wished to “take revenge”, it should be directed at him and not at members of his party.