Samarth Jurel, known for his stint on Bigg Boss 17 where he was hailed as the season’s most entertaining contestant, found himself at the center of controversy recently. A harmless April Fool’s Day prank he played on his fans sparked severe trolling after he posted a picture of himself in a hospital bed on Instagram.
The image immediately ignited concerns about Samarth’s health among netizens. However, he swiftly diffused the situation by sharing a video confirming his well-being, revealing that the hospital picture was all part of an elaborate prank.
Explaining the prank, Samarth stated, “I posted a picture of myself in the hospital with a thumbs-up, and within 30 seconds, I posted another video revealing it was a prank. I didn’t pretend to be dead or take a day to reveal the truth. It was simply April Fool’s Day; my fans know how playful and mischievous I am. I apologize if anyone was hurt, but that was not my intention.”
Despite his attempt to lighten the mood, Samarth faced backlash and was likened to a male version of Poonam Pandey. However, in an interview, he reiterated that his intention was never to offend anyone. He clarified that the hospital picture was from an old photo shoot, further emphasizing that the prank was all in good fun.
Samarth’s experience serves as a reminder of the fine line between humor and offense in the age of social media, where a harmless joke can quickly escalate into controversy.