Telugu star Allu Arjun is facing significant online backlash after joking that his followers should “go stand outside the house of the girl you like” rather than engage in toxic social media fan wars.
He made the comment while delivering a speech at the annual meeting of the Allu Arjun Fans Association (AAFA) in Hyderabad.
Urging his supporters to stop wasting energy on online trolling and negativity, the actor used the example of money to make his point. “If you had 100 rupees, would you spend it on something you don’t like?” he asked. “In the same way, spend time doing something you like. Go wait in front of the house of the girl you like. At least you will enjoy yourself.”
Although the thousands of fans gathered at the event cheered and laughed at the comment, the video clip quickly went viral on Instagram and X, triggering a heated debate. Netizens strongly criticised the remark, arguing that waiting outside a woman’s house is textbook stalking behaviour. They pointed out that such comments normalise and validate boundaries being crossed under the guise of romance. Many social media users called Arjun’s advice “creepy” and “irresponsible.” They highlighted that given his massive, influential fanbase, promoting behaviour that compromises a woman’s safety or comfort is highly inappropriate.