After Bitorajac recorded a satirical video clip, he started receiving threats and became target of attacks from some media.
Croatian Journalists' Society (HND) said it was shocked by a feature about a well-known Croatian actor Rene Bitorajac which was broadcast in the infamous “Bujica” TV show and called on high government officials to immediately condemn these latest attacks, report Jutarnji List and Večernji List on May 9, 2016.
“HND is appalled by the fact that the show broadcast what amounted to a warrant for Bitorajac, including clearly showing the address at which Bitorajac lives with his wife and two children”, announced the HND. “Narod” internet website reposted the feature, including the part in which the address of Bitorajac home is clearly visible.
"By attacking the family of Rene Bitorajac in a extremely dangerous way, a series of public calls to lynching of those people who in their public statements oppose the imposition of backwardness and intolerance as a desirable social model has been continued”, said the HND in the statement.
Bitorajac recently recorded a satirical video clip "We Croats”, after which he started receiving a series of negative comments and insults on social networks. In the feature broadcast in Bujica, Bitorajac was reportedly accused of “insulting everything Croatian” and of “having inherited the apartment in which he lives from his grandparents – partisan chiefs and relatives of the notorious Serbian Admiral Branko Mamula".
Bitorajac wrote a post on Facebook, saying that there were much more positive than negative reactions and adding that he accepted negative reactions, but not insults. He concluded that patriotism can be expressed in different ways, including with critical commentary.
In an interview, he said that “the dark side was gaining wings", adding that the song was satirical and self-deprecating. “It is obvious that I have touched a hornet's nest with this song.”
“It saddens me that Croatia is being an increasingly divided country and that the dark side is gaining wings. I am an artist and therefore I will continue to do my job. With this song, I might have broken the silence. These newspapers which show my home address and threaten my children and mother over the Facebook are the example of primitivism. I will do everything to protect my family.”
