Bengali film actor Subhashree Ganguly has made a shocking revelation, stating that her children received death threats following her decision to post photographs with football icon Lionel Messi. The images were taken during the Argentine superstar's recent, and reportedly mismanaged, visit to Kolkata.
From Online Trolls to Real-Life Threats
In a heartfelt video message shared on her Instagram, Ganguly expressed her distress over the vitriolic backlash. What began as criticism for her presence at the VIP section of the event quickly escalated into a torrent of online abuse. The actor described the situation as "deeply disturbing," highlighting how the online hatred transformed into genuine fear when it targeted her family.
"The thing which came as a shock to me is how soon it descended into abusive language," Ganguly stated. She emphasized the real-world impact, noting how such threats can "translate into real-life fear, particularly if it involves a family being caught in the crossfire."
Clarifying Her Presence at the Chaotic Event
Addressing the controversy head-on, Subhashree Ganguly provided context for her actions. She clarified that after an initial interaction with Messi at a hotel, the event organizers themselves invited her to the Salt Lake Stadium. Contrary to public perception, she was inside the venue's tents when the crowd surged onto the field upon Messi's arrival.
Due to internet jammers active at the stadium, she was unable to post the pictures immediately. She shared them later, a timing she admits was unfortunate given the public anger over the event's poor management. "I was running late for a shoot and left the stadium in haste once the chaos began," she explained. It was only after reaching her shoot location and starting work that she realized her post had gone live and provoked severe backlash.
Political Links and Gender Bias Allegations
The trolling took multiple ugly turns. A section of netizens questioned her right to be at the event, especially when paying fans were left disappointed. Others dragged politics into the fray, linking her to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) because her husband, film director Raj Chakraborty, is a politician with the Congress party. Reports indicate Chakraborty has been actively trying to stop the harassment.
Ganguly pointedly questioned the motives behind the targeted attack. She wondered if she was being singled out because she belongs to the Bengali film industry or, more fundamentally, because she is a woman. She drew a comparison, noting that Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan also met Messi and shared pictures without facing similar wrath, adding that she was asked to represent her regional industry at the event.
The incident stems from the widespread chaos at Lionel Messi's Kolkata stop, part of his 'GOAT Tour of India 2025'. Thousands of fans were left disgruntled after the footballer left the Salt Lake Stadium early due to crowd mismanagement, despite many having paid high ticket prices. The fallout from this mismanagement has now extended to online harassment targeting a local celebrity and her young family, raising serious questions about cyberbullying and misogyny.
