YouTuber Payal Malik Apologizes Publicly for Kali Maa Video After Social Media Backlash

Popular YouTuber Armaan Malik and his wives, Payal and Kritika, are often in the spotlight—sometimes for their content, and other times for controversy. This time, Payal Malik has found herself at the center of a social media storm after posting a video in which she dressed up as the Hindu goddess Kali Maa. The video sparked widespread criticism, leading to a public apology and even disciplinary action.

The Reason Behind the Video

Payal Malik explained her intention in a heartfelt apology: “I want to sincerely apologize to everyone for my video. My daughter is a great devotee of Kali Maa. She is always chanting Kali Maa’s name, so I thought I’d create this look for my child. Maybe I made a big mistake.”

Public Reaction and Controversy

The video quickly became controversial, with national secretary Deepanshu Sood stating that Payal’s actions had hurt religious sentiments. As the backlash grew, Payal traveled to Patiala to apologize at the Kali Maa temple. There, she sought forgiveness from both the goddess and the devotees. As punishment, temple authorities asked her to perform an hour of service, during which she washed utensils and served food to people at the temple.

Mixed Response on Social Media

Payal’s apology video has gone viral across social media, with netizens voicing a spectrum of opinions. Many came to her defense, saying, “This is not something wrong. The world is such—don’t worry Payal, we are with you,” and “This is a common thing, nothing to make a big deal about.” Others pointed out that at cultural and religious shows, similar costumes are worn, and saw nothing offensive about Payal recreating the goddess’s look for her daughter.

However, some people felt that influencers should be more cautious while dealing with sensitive religious topics. Still, a large segment of her followers dismissed the outrage as overreaction. One user commented, “There’s nothing wrong with Payal. People are simply making noise for fame,” while another wrote, “I feel bad this happened. Payal was not wrong at all.”

A Wider Debate

While Payal has apologized and done penance, the incident has sparked a wider debate about freedom of expression, religious sentiments, and the responsibilities of influencers. As for Payal, she has urged other content creators to be mindful and avoid similar situations in the future.

What do you think—was Payal in the wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments, and for more updates, subscribe to Bollywood Pe Charcha.