Actor and influencer Diya Krishna has announced a temporary departure from Instagram, citing a need to move away from the intense negativity she has encountered on the platform. The decision follows a significant online backlash triggered by a comment she posted on a video concerning the cultural and social landscape of Fort Kochi.
The controversy emerged after Krishna commented "Sad reality" on a video shared by influencer Amrit Singh Darren. The footage, filmed at a cafe in Fort Kochi, contained remarks questioning the display of a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah alongside Mahatma Gandhi. The video further included claims regarding the local business landscape and the demographic composition of the area, while suggesting that certain residents in the locality were living in fear.
In a subsequent clarification, Krishna stated that she had only watched the portion of the video featuring the cafe and was unaware of the other assertions made by Darren regarding the Muslim population in the area. She explained that her "Sad reality" remark was a specific reaction to the presence of Jinnah's portrait, which she felt was inappropriate given the context of the cafe’s name and the prominence of Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation.
Krishna expressed that the resulting backlash was distressing, particularly noting the arrival of hurtful direct messages. She stated that the incident had been distorted in some media reports and requested that the public refrain from inflating the issue into a broader controversy. During her explanation, she strongly denied harboring negative views toward the Muslim community, highlighting her own personal connections with Muslim friends and relatives to counter allegations that she wished for members of the community to leave Kerala.
Addressing the broader impact of social media discourse, Krishna remarked that she had come to realize how online interactions could negatively affect individuals regardless of their personal character. "I realised no matter how much of a true, kind and good-hearted person you are, some people inside social media can tear you apart if they don’t like you. It can even destroy relationships," she wrote in an Instagram Story.
The actor, who is the daughter of actor and politician Krishnakumar, also noted that she remains proud of her own religious identity as a Hindu. She shared that during her travels in Munnar, she had positive interactions with the public, including young Muslim women who approached her for photographs, which she cited as a contrast to the vitriol found online.
In her final message to her followers before stepping away, Krishna expressed gratitude to those who had supported her. "Saying goodbye to Instagram for a short while. Need to detoxify myself from this negativity. To everyone who loved me so far, thank you. I’ll forever be grateful to you! Adios," she added. While she has removed the initial comment that sparked the debate, the incident continued to draw attention, prompting her decision to exit the platform for a temporary period.
Comments