Indian cricket celebrity Virat Kohli was recently in the middle of a social media controversy after being seen liking a daring Instagram picture of actress and dancer Avneet Kaur. The move generated curiosity and outrage among supporters, who quickly picked up on the sudden action from the cricketer’s official handle.
The photo in question, posted by Avneet Kaur, gained widespread attention not only because of its content but also due to the celebrity who appeared to engage with it. Kohli’s action did not go unnoticed by social media users, many of whom began speculating about his intentions. The incident led to a flurry of comments and assumptions, putting Kohli in an uncomfortable spotlight.
As tensions rose on the internet, Virat Kohli spoke up publicly to put things into perspective. In a statement posted through his Instagram story, the erstwhile Indian skipper came clean on the subject, explaining that the like was not done consciously and was no deliberate action by him. He said that he was browsing his feed when perhaps an accidental click might have taken place due to the nature of the platform’s algorithm.
Kohli went on to explain that while clearing his Instagram feed, it is possible that the app incorrectly registered an interaction. He asserted that there was no other cause or ulterior motive behind the incident. To avoid further speculation and misinterpretation, he asked fans and followers to refrain from creating unnecessary assumptions regarding the incident.
This case again points to the high level of scrutiny public personalities, particularly celebrities and sports personalities like Kohli, undergo in the era of the internet. Even an innocent act like liking a post—whether done intentionally or otherwise—can become the focus of mass attention and debate very soon. Social media interactions are monitored closely, and even the slightest gesture can spark mass public discourse.
In spite of his swift clarification, the episode is a reminder of the double-edged sword of celebrity presence online. While Instagram, for instance, provides an opportunity to reach out to fans, it leaves one with little room for personal or even spontaneous moves. Here, Kohli’s open reply cooled the mounting din, but indicated how quickly the digital space could respond to what it perceived as irregularities in celebrity conduct.
For the moment, Virat Kohli has gone to bury the issue, asking his fans to pay attention to facts instead of speculation. His message was simple: not everything online is so deep in meaning, and things sometimes happen by accident in the rapidly changing world of social media.
We welcome your contributions! Submit your blogs, opinion pieces, press releases, news story pitches, and news features to opinion@minutemirror.com.pk and minutemirrormail@gmail.com