Image Courtesy:english.jagran.com

Amitabh Bachchan, a popular public figure with a fan following of millions, has been in the hospital since he tested positive for Covid-19. Since then, millions of well wishers, fans have sent him positive messages, wishing him speedy recovery. However some online trolls and bullies have also wished him ill including posting about how they wish he succumbed to the coronavirus. Ordinarily, all celebrities receive hate mail and most of them ignore it. But not Bachchan, who decided to give it back to these trolls via a hateful open letter.

This letter seems to be an expression of his built up rage and he has threatened his trolls by inciting his fans to take action against them. This has left many in shock as the actor is known for his calm demeanor among his colleagues as well as among his fans.

Bachchan originally posted this letter on his blog, but it has been taken down now, presumably as his PR machinery must have gotten to work. The now deleted, open letter read, “They write to tell me... 'I hope you die with this Covid… Hey, Mr. Anonymous... you do not even write your Father's name,... because you do not know who Fathered you... there are only two things that can happen... either I shall die or either I shall live. If I die you won't get to write your diatribe anymore, by weathering your remark on a celebrity name... pity”

Continuing in the same vein, he wrote, “If by God's grace I live and survive you shall have to be 'weathering' the 'swipe' storm, not just from me, but on a very conservative level, from 90+ million followers."

"I have yet to tell them to... but if I survive I shall... and let me tell you they are a force incensed... they traverse the entire World... from the West to the East from the North to the South ... and they are not just the Ef of this page... that extended family shall in the flash of an eye become 'extermination family'!! All I shall say to them is... 'thok do saale ko'."

He ended this letter saying, “May you burn in your own stew!!”

It is understandable for prolonged illness to have an adverse impact on mental health, but the letter sounded more hateful than the ramblings of an irritated convalescing patient.  When public figures with a stature like Bachchan indulge in such inciteful speech, it becomes a matter of much concern since actors like him influence many and their provocations could actually have an impact on young minds that blindly follow their “movie stars”. All one expects is that public figures act responsibly, mindful of their influence on the millions of fans they usually boast of and use that to spread brotherhood instead of hate.

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