The video has been released, and the backlash has been enormous! Why Nushrratt Bharuccha finally broke her silence
They are viewed, shared, responded to, and by the end of the day, social media is buzzing with comments. However at times, an opinion becomes trolling. But when trolling turns personal, it’s an actual effect on those in the middle.
This is what Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha says she went through recently.
The actress has been in the news for her viral video that had garnered a lot of reactions online. Her supporters liked her, her critics criticized her, and soon, Nushrratt notes, “the criticism turned into personal attacks.
Finally, she has spoken out and her comment has launched a much bigger discussion on social media culture and harassment online.
So, what was the deal?
The controversy arose after a video of Nushrratt Bharuccha during the celebrations of the Indian Premier League (IPL) went viral on social media. The clip spread like wildfire and sparked a lot of commenting going around on the web.
Reactions came pouring in from all corners as the video went viral. Some fans applauded the actress, while others were questioning and criticized her. The discussion spiralled out of the original scope and Nushrratt was soon caught up in a social media frenzy.
The actress said in her statement that while everyone is entitled to give an opinion, there is a difference between criticism and harassment.
She went on to state on a now-viral social media post:
“Harassment in the guise of opinion is still harassment.”
Many people use the excuse of “just sharing an opinion” and make very personal attacks against people online,” says Nushrratt.
What happens when someone is targeted, ridiculed or insulted again and again without understanding the situation is that it no longer constitutes criticism, but it becomes harmful behavior, she explained.
The actress also confessed that the incident had a personal impact on her. Judgement is a big thing on social media, where users are sometimes not aware of the facts, which can be “breathtaking” emotionally, she said.
Social media is once again split over her statement.
Many users have spoken up for Nushrratt, saying that she’s a human being too and deserves to be treated with respect as opposed to merciless trolling as a celebrity.
Others, however, argue that criticism and scrutiny must also be tolerated in the public arena, due to the visibility and influence of public figures.
However, the incident has brought a very significant debate about the nature of online behavior in this digital world to the fore, and not just the one I’m addressing here.
The world moves at a rapid pace today and in just a few minutes, a short clip of video can go viral and shape public opinion before the facts are in. Social media can make a person famous in just a matter of moments, but it can also bring a lot of criticism down on their head in a flash.
In recent years, a number of celebrities, sporting figures and members of the public have come forward to talk about what they have suffered from in relation to abuse online and the effects this has had on their mental health. Now, Nushrratt Bharuccha has joined in that conversation.
The real question is:
How much freedom of speech and how much online harassment is tolerated?
Are there any differences between commenting on someone’s behavior and attacking a person? Are consumers of social media more aware of the power and influence their words have?
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