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Salman Khan was seen visibly angry and irritated on the latest 'Weekend Ka Vaar' episode of the Bigg Boss 20 show. The actor opened up about a growing culture of trolling people on social media. Salman said he has been a victim of trolling for his age, weight, and appearance.
The superstar peeled off his T-shirt on the spot and displayed his muscular body to the viewers. Salman criticised the trolls and said they can write anything about him and called them out for having a double standard.
The actor also said they should first look at themselves and their families before judging others. He said it was a good thing to care about people’s health but not to ridicule them.
The other contestants in the Bigg Boss house gave a huge ovation after Salman spoke out strongly. A few of them also supported him and clapped for the superstar.
Salman warned all the trolls on social media to leave other people alone and criticised them for posting humiliating comments. The actor also advised them to focus on positive things.
The incident highlighted Salman Khan’s anger towards the growing trend of trolling. The Bigg Boss 20 host made a sensible remark about the culture of ridiculing people on social media. Many viewers have appreciated Salman for removing his shirt and criticising the trolls for making mockery of people. The actor has indeed raised a sensible point that celebrities are also human and feel hurt like normal individuals.
Salman Khan removes his T-shirt on Bigg Boss 20, says ‘Troll me now’
Salman Khan has expressed his thoughts on the increasing phenomenon of trolling on social media, celebrities as victims of such campaigns, and more. In his comments, the Bollywood star discussed trolling criticism, fan clubs, media coverage, political issues, and the pressure of a person in the entertainment business. Salman Khan talked about some of the most pressing problems of the modern celebrity culture and the digital space.
Amongst other things, the actor spoke about the so-called constructive criticism that celebrities receive via social media channels. In fact, this problem is exacerbated by the very existence of such platforms because they provide ample opportunities for expressing one’s opinion towards a public figure. People can openly share their thoughts about a celebrity’s appearance, private life, movies, clothes, relatives, and professional skills.
During his monolog, Salman Khan also mentioned the so-called ‘political trolling’ – when people criticise not only the work of a celebrity but also their political views. The actor stated that he can identify who is behind such campaigns because usually, these are the fans and their fan clubs. At the same time, in Salman Khan’s opinion, sometimes it is necessary not to respond to such criticism so that the reaction does not inflame the situation even more. He also noted that in the cutthroat movie business, sometimes rival studios and actors can start such campaigns. Of course, it is hard to call these things solid proof, but the actor clearly spoke about the existence of such problems.
This line of thinking also includes Khan’s ideas about the connection between social media and money in the film industry. Salman Khan criticised some aspects of the modern movie business, in which financial issues are intertwined with ratings, reviews, and promotion. He also mentioned the problem of ‘paid’ ratings and criticisms of movies. Naturally, such issues are not limited to the movie stars, as one can see many examples of ‘paid’ online campaigns.
In his monolog, Salman also mentioned the problems of celebrities being pressed to take positions on various political and social issues. In his opinion, the actors have the right to take a break from politics if they do not have enough information about a particular issue or do not want to comment on it. Naturally, Khan emphasised that a celebrity should not use their platform to spread fake news or distorted information about a political figure or event. According to Khan, such dilemmas are not characteristic of the celebrity culture anymore, and actors should reflect on whether they want to be spokespersons for a political party or not.
At the same time, Salman Khan pointed out that it is necessary to separate the critics of a celebrity from those who sincerely do not like a person. Naturally, many people will remain dissatisfied with any film, actor, or event. However, a sincere critic can express their point of view in a civilised manner without insults or attacking a person’s private life. Salman Khan also claimed that ordinary citizens should not make a living by trolling celebrities on the Internet.
Interestingly, one of the most interesting sayings of Salman Khan was in response to criticism of his appearance. Many people on social media make up stories and comment on the actor’s weight. Salman responded to this by saying he was not afraid to lose weight and do sports. However, if people continue to write negative things about him, he will take off his shirt and show them that he does not have six-pack abs. Such a reaction clearly shows that the actor reflects on the issue of body shaming and wants to draw attention to this problem.
According to Khan, people should think about their own lives instead of spending time harassing celebrities on the Internet. Naturally, some actors’ opinions about their appearance or weight can be criticised. However, in Salman’s opinion, this should not be the reason to humiliate a person or start a mass campaign.
It should also be noted that Khan does not exclude the fact that citizens have the right to criticise his work, movies, or behavior. On the other hand, according to the actor, people should not go further and insult his appearance or body. In addition, he pointed out that people should not start a mass campaign against other actors and members of their families. For example, Khan cited Sohail Khan and Varun Dhawan as examples of people whose fans he does not like. Naturally, each viewer has the right to form their opinion about the work of actors, but it is necessary to express it in a civilised manner without insults.
One of the problems of modern celebrities is the reaction of social media users to their clothes and appearance. If a star wears clothes that has already been worn, or garments that have been torn, then Internet users will voice their opinions about it. Salman Khan believes that it is necessary to separate work and personal life and not start mass campaigns against actors for minor issues. The actor also pointed out that he is glad to wear clothes that have been repeated several times or that are torn. According to him, this is not worth criticising or starting mass Internet campaigns.
In Salman Khan’s opinion, the problem of Internet trolling also lies in the fact that people are unprepared for such situations. According to the actor, some trolls are encouraged by the fact that celebrities do not react to their comments or even ignore them. Naturally, if a public figure reacts negatively to insults or criticism, then this will only fuel the campaign. Thus, Khan believes that it is better not to react to negative comments in order not to give them more publicity and importance.
Of course, the problem of online trolling is part of a more significant issue: a celebrity’s attitude towards criticism. With the advent and popularity of such platforms as Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and others, actors and entertainers have more opportunities for self-promotion. However, this also means that critics have more opportunities to express their opinions and views. A single image or word from a celebrity can receive thousands of comments on social media. Therefore, there may be many opinions about the person, their appearance, work, behaviour, and so on.
Thus, in his monolog, Salman Khan mentioned many of the actor’s burning problems: online trolling, criticism of movies, journalists, politics, and celebrities’ attitude towards their work. Interestingly, he did not mention the reaction of the press or the film business to such Internet resource problems. On the contrary, he stressed that the actor’s position and reflection on criticism are essential.
In fact, one of the most crucial aspects of such criticism is the separation between a sincere critic and a person who does not likes a celebrity’s work. Naturally, it is impossible to deny the critics’ right to express their opinion about the work of an actor or a movie. However, this does not give them the right to abuse a public figure’s personal life, insult, or humiliate them. Thus, Salman Khan drew attention to the fact that criticism and trolling are not the same thing. In fact, the Internet has many problems, but they are exacerbated by the fact that people do not always clearly differentiate between these concepts.
Salman Khan recalls tracking down a troll
Salman Khan recollected an incident of his past dealing with an online troll while talking about the situation regarding trolling on social media. The actor spoke about how such trolling can sometimes cross the line and turn very personal for the celebrities.
Speaking at the event, Salman revealed that there used to be a young guy who had been trolling him on social media, with him making really disgusting comments. He further added that instead of giving any heed to the comments, he traced the netizens on the internet, got to know where he lived, and met him personally. Salman added that they met his parents, and he was really apologetic and begged for his forgiveness.
While talking about such situations, Salman remarked that it isn’t a big deal to know who someone is on the internet if they cross the line and start trolling. He said that many trollers are often exposed by the celebrities, hinting that he and his team might know more about such people than the public. The actor also cautioned people to be mindful before posting any comments on social media as it can get them into trouble.
Salman also questioned the ethics of trolling on social media. Referring to the issue as a ‘double standard’, the actor questioned why such activities aren’t banned like movies, TV shows, and web series. He further added that in the future, social media might also get regulated like other platforms, considering the amount of issues it faces.
The actor later questioned why people wanted to support and encourage trolling accounts on social media just for fun. As he talked to the participants present in the room, Salman reminded them that celebrities and people from the industry also get trolled and reminded them of the need to deal with social media responsibly.
Salman Khan on his latest look and scrutiny around films
Salman Khan has responded to the internet rumours which were circulating around regarding his recent appearance and the reaction of the social media towards it. During the conversation, the actor opened up about the assumption that he was going bald or was considering a hair transplant after seeing his new look.
Salman denied it was due to the transformation that he was going through but mentioned that the change was for an upcoming movie. He also added that it was a personal reason due to the loss of his close friend who died around two months ago. The actor mentioned that this tragedy made it difficult for him to think of it as a simple rumour as some people wanted to assume it was because he was going bald.
He added that such rumours and comments do not affect him due to his high-profiled career as he has been through such things before. However, Salman pointed out that different people had various reactions towards such rumours. The actor admitted the fact that some people are more sensitive and vulnerable towards such comments and Salman stated that they can deeply affect them and cause mental breakdowns and depression. His comments made a clear understanding of the situation where people should not go too far when sharing their opinions.
The actor mentioned that he respects the audience and their contribution towards the success of the movies but denied that buying a ticket gives the authority for a person to abuse and criticise. Salman claimed that the actors strive to provide entertainment for people and the least they can do is appreciate them for their hard work and dedication to the craft.
The actor also appreciated the other actors in the industry that have been addressing the problem of trolling and cyberbullying and Salman Khan's statements created an important discussion. It has been seen that in the modern world, people have access to the internet where they can abuse and spread rumours around them. A person can criticise a movie, acting, or appearance, but the trolling and spreading of unbased rumours can cause mental trauma and depression.