KATHMANDU: Actress Surakshya Panta is the latest celebrity to fall victim to digital abuse and cyberbullying. Her social media accounts have been flooded with hate comments, full of hostility and emotional aggression. The backlash against her intensified when a boycott campaign was launched against her latest film Khel, after she posted a symbolic poem titled Samarpit on Facebook in protest. However, the attacks haven’t stopped. Surakshya faced further trolling after sharing her thoughts about former Crown Prince Hridayendra Shah during a television interview. Her comments quickly went viral on social media, from Facebook to TikTok, subjecting her to a barrage of online insults.
Unfortunately, Surakshya is just one of many. Cyber violence against Nepali celebrities has been increasing. Here are ten prominent cases of digital abuse faced by well-known personalities in recent times:
1. Deepa Shree Niraula
Actress and filmmaker Deepa Shree Niraula was criticized after questioning actor Rajesh Hamal being a super star in an on-air interview. Her comment lead to a social media outrage. She was sent a flood of abusive comments and was even threatened with boycotts of her movies. Deepa eventually left the show Mundre Ko Comedy Club, and despite repeated apologies, the abuse didn’t stop. The emotional toll led her to significantly reduce her media appearances.
2. Prakash Saput
Singer and actor Prakash Saput was heavily trolled in Falgun after praising then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli during the launch of Oli’s biography KP Sharma Oli: Sapana, Sangharsha ra Sankalp. His words were taken as political favoritism, leading to social media outrage and even caste-based slurs. His film Basanta, which he had written, directed, and acted in, became the subject of a boycott campaign.
3. Pooja Sharma
Actress Pooja Sharma has frequently been subjected to digital abuse. During an interview, she mistakenly claimed that Nepal had 72 provinces and 14 districts, which led to a wave of mockery on social media. Her lack of general knowledge and failure to identify political leaders made her a prime target for online trolls. Additionally, her vocal support for actor Paul Shah further intensified the attacks.
4. Saugat Malla
Actor Saugat Malla found himself at the center of social media criticism after failing to name national leaders during a TV interview. His lack of basic political awareness sparked online mockery, and he was heavily criticized for being uninformed. This backlash led him to take a break from media interviews for a period.
5. Richa Sharma
Actress Richa Sharma is currently experiencing a wave of online abuse. After voicing her support for Surakshya Panta, Richa became a target of hate messages and vulgar comments on social media. This digital violence has left her emotionally distressed.
6. Aanchal Sharma
Aanchal Sharma is another actress who frequently faces trolling, often due to her own remarks. She once suggested that women who use TikTok more are more creative and referred to co-star Pooja Sharma as a senior actress. These comments attracted harsh criticism. Aanchal also faced online abuse after she made a controversial comment about body-shaming a male model.
7. Priyanka Karki
Actress Priyanka Karki was insulted online after a slip of the tongue during an interview, where she stated, “I’ve gone to the US many times, but this is my first time in America.” The comment was misinterpreted, and she became the target of trolls across social media.
8. Barsha Raut
Actress Barsha Raut was subjected to online attacks amid the Nepal–India border dispute. After expressing her discomfort about how she and her Indian friends were handling the issue, she said, “I don’t know how to face my Indian friends, and they don’t know how to face me.” This statement led to widespread criticism and online abuse.
9. Khem Century
Singer Khem Century, a coach on The Voice of Nepal Season 6, found himself under fire during a blind audition. His overenthusiastic response of pressing the buzzer with his foot was criticized by social media users. He also faced caste-based slurs, which affected him emotionally.
10. Durgesh Thapa
Singer Durgesh Thapa often finds himself involved in minor controversies due to his music, but he faced major cyber abuse after mistakenly attributing a song by Bhakta Raj Acharya to Narayan Gopal during a TV performance. He was also targeted for his alleged involvement in the Paul Shah rape case, with online critics intensifying their attacks.
These ten cases highlight the increasing prevalence of cyber violence and digital harassment faced by Nepali celebrities. What begins as a simple mistake or a controversial opinion can quickly escalate into character assassination, emotional trauma, and significant career setbacks.
