In recent times, Bollywood celebrities voicing their concerns about a firecracker-free Diwali have often found themselves in the crosshairs of social media trolls. While some fans rallied behind their favorite stars, a significant portion of the public exposed what they deemed as the hypocrisy of these B-town figures. Let’s take a look at the celebrities who faced severe backlash for advocating a Diwali without fireworks!
Celebs who promoted Diwali without firecrackers & got trolled:
1. Priyanka Chopra Jonas
In 2018, Priyanka Chopra Jonas faced a barrage of criticism for endorsing a firecracker-free Diwali. The backlash intensified when, on her wedding day to Nick Jonas, fireworks illuminated the sky at Umaid Bhawan Palace, contradicting her earlier stance. Netizens labeled her a ‘hypocrite,’ causing embarrassment among her vast fanbase.
2. Alia Bhatt
A few years ago, Alia Bhatt spearheaded the ‘PoochOverPataka’ campaign, urging people to prioritize the safety and happiness of pets over burning firecrackers. Despite receiving immense support from her fanbase, Alia faced criticism for her silence on fireworks at other events like marriages and launch parties.
3. Anushka Sharma
In 2020, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli faced backlash for discouraging Diwali fireworks. Virat’s Instagram video requesting people to avoid crackers for the environment drew criticism from trolls who weren’t willing to forgive even the beloved celebrity couple.
4. Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan’s collaboration with Ceat Tyres in an advertisement discouraging the bursting of crackers on roads sparked controversy. Netizens questioned Aamir’s silence on other practices, like offering Namaz on the streets, leading to the trend of ‘boycott Aamir Khan’ on Twitter.
5. Neha Dhupia Bedi
Last year, Neha Dhupia Bedi advocated for a cracker-less Diwali, citing harm to the environment and children. However, this stance led to merciless trolling, with one police officer, Pranav Mahajan, advising her to reconsider her lavish lifestyle due to its reported carbon footprint. Neha Dhupia wrote, “Pls stop bursting firecrackers. It’s hurting the environment, it’s hurting us, it’s hurting our children. Please.”
To this, Pranav replied, “Stop living the ultra luxurious lifestyle having high carbon footprint. It hurts even more.”
While these celebrities championed environmental causes, their actions often seemed incongruent with their preachings, triggering a wave of online criticism. The clash between their public personas and private choices serves as a reminder that in the era of social media scrutiny, consistency is key.
