In the age of social media, a single post can define or derail a career. Several Bollywood celebrities have learned this the hard way, facing immediate and severe public backlash for their controversial tweets. These incidents have not only sparked online outrage but have also had tangible impacts on their professional lives and public image.
The Fallout from Inflammatory Online Statements
The line between personal opinion and public statement is often blurred for celebrities. When that opinion is deemed offensive, the digital world reacts with swift condemnation. In December 2025, a look back reveals a pattern where stars faced instant repercussions for their online conduct.
One of the most prominent cases is that of playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya. His career took a severe hit after he posted a series of inflammatory tweets. These posts targeted women journalists, political leaders, and minority communities. The backlash was intense and led to multiple suspensions from social media platforms for violating their rules. Mainstream Bollywood gradually distanced itself from him, and despite his attempts at a comeback, his professional resurgence has largely failed.
Kangana Ranaut and the Permanent Ban
Known as much for her explosive online presence as for her films, Kangana Ranaut has frequently stirred nationwide debates with her tweets. Her posts ranged from personal digs at colleagues to politically charged statements. The situation reached a critical point in 2021 when Twitter permanently suspended her account for repeatedly violating its policies on hate speech. Although she moved to other platforms like Koo and Instagram, the backlash contributed to film boycott calls and a noticeable cooling in her relationship with sections of the film industry.
When Social Media Fuels Public Trials
Sometimes, the backlash isn't tied to a single tweet but to a perceived narrative. Actress Rhea Chakraborty experienced one of the most brutal online witch-hunts in recent memory following the tragic death of Sushant Singh Rajput. While not cancelled for a specific post, her cryptic social media activity and subsequent interviews were dissected by the public. Hashtags demanding her arrest trended for weeks, and online trolls pronounced her guilty long before any legal proceedings. This led to an informal exile from Bollywood, from which she is only slowly attempting to rebuild her career.
Director Sajid Khan also faced a torrent of online anger, though not from one specific post. The backlash erupted when he was offered a platform for a comeback on the reality show Bigg Boss, despite multiple #MeToo allegations against him. Twitter users condemned both the show and the industry, creating a sustained and unforgiving wave of protest that made his attempted return one of the most heavily contested.
Vivek Oberoi's Major PR Disaster
A moment intended as humor backfired spectacularly for actor Vivek Oberoi in 2019. He shared a meme that compared former partner Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's past relationships to election results. The post was widely slammed as sexist, insensitive, and disrespectful. Criticism poured in from netizens, fellow industry members, and even political figures. Although Oberoi quickly deleted the meme and issued an apology, the damage to his reputation was already done. What was meant to be a light-hearted take during election season turned into a significant public relations disaster.
The Lasting Impact of Digital Outrage
The cases of these five celebrities underscore a new reality in Bollywood and beyond. Instant backlash on social media can have long-term professional consequences. The court of public opinion, fueled by platforms like X (formerly Twitter), now operates at lightning speed, holding public figures accountable for their words in real-time. For these stars, controversial tweets led to suspended accounts, public shaming, industry distancing, and damaged careers—a stark reminder that in the digital era, every post is a permanent part of one's legacy.
