Long Fallout from Hotman Paris's 'Do You Have a Brain?' Remark
The fallout continues for celebrity lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea after he belittled the journalism profession. Besides drawing widespread condemnation, Hotman now faces legal proceedings following a police report.
The case originated when Hotman held a press conference at the Attorney General’s Office building in South Jakarta on Friday (17/7). At the time, Hotman was speaking in his capacity as the lawyer for former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah. While answering a journalist’s question, Hotman retorted, ‘Do you have a brain?’ The remark immediately drew a strong response from various quarters.
Demonstrators gathered at the Hotman Paris & Partner law office in the Kensington complex, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Monday (20/7). The group, calling themselves Aktivis Connection, arrived with a command vehicle and six minibuses, carrying flags and banners. Through a loudspeaker, an orator urged Hotman Paris to issue a public clarification regarding the statement deemed insulting to the journalism profession. The crowd also rejected what they called the public deception and misleading narratives built by Hotman Paris, criticising his sensational style and displays of wealth. One banner read, ‘Law must be based on evidence, not flaunting wealth and sensation.’ Another urged, ‘Uphold the law, eradicate advocates who defend corruptors destroying NKRI.’ Polda Metro Jaya spokesperson Kombes Budi Hermanto confirmed the demonstration proceeded in an orderly manner under police supervision.
The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has taken legal action over the ‘do you have a brain’ remark. PWI’s Director of Anti-Violence against Journalists, Edison Siahaan, stated the statement not only hurt feelings but demeaned the profession. ‘We want to report the person who asked if a journalist has a brain. As we know, journalists are intelligent,’ he told reporters at Polda Metro Jaya on Monday (20/7). The report was registered under number LP/B/5291/VI2028/SPKT/POLDAMETRO JAYA, citing Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023. Although Hotman Paris has since apologised, Edison deemed the apology insincere, describing it as a mere formality rather than a genuine expression of regret. He explained the legal route was chosen to ensure the matter is processed transparently and to clarify the intent behind the statement, asserting that freedom of expression does not include insulting the journalism profession. PWI submitted video footage of the incident as evidence and noted that various journalist organisations have agreed to support the complaint.
A second police report was filed by the Independent Online Media (MIO) organisation at Polda Metro Jaya on Tuesday (21/7). The report, registered under number LP/B/5298/VII/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA, invokes articles from the new Criminal Code and the Press Law. MIO Chairman Asep Yusuf Setyawan Prayogie stated that Hotman Paris’s public statement directed at a journalist demonstrated contempt and insult towards the profession. He stressed that the remark was not a critique but a denigration, and the report was made to defend the dignity of journalists.