Ashnoor Kaur, Tanya Mittal and Neelam Giri — in a recent episode of Bigg Boss 19, some housemates allegedly body‑shamed Ashnoor, making insulting remarks about her weight and appearance.The comments reportedly included mocking her body type and criticizing her outfit — remarks that many viewers considered cruel and unwarranted. The video clip quickly spread on social media, provoking a wave of public outrage as fans and celebrities condemned the behavior and rallied in support of Ashnoor.
In one segment, the contestants criticized Ashnoor’s outfit, saying it didn’t “suit” her body type, and even claimed that if someone like Tanya or Neelam had worn it, it would have looked better. Such remarks, captured on the live feed, spread quickly on social media — drawing widespread outrage from fans and viewers. This wasn’t a minor or offhand comment; multiple participants joined in, and the tone was mocking and demeaning. The housemates reportedly suggested Ashnoor “looked like a grandmother,” had a “balloon‑like face,” and even ridiculed her despite her efforts to maintain fitness.
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Reaction from Public
Support for Ashnoor
The backlash beyond the show was swift and strong. Many celebrities, influencers, and former contestants spoke out publicly against the body‑shaming — condemning the behaviour as hurtful and unacceptable.
- Jannat Zubair called out the remarks on social media, writing, “A person’s body is not public property for jokes and opinions… She’s on that stage because she’s talented, confident and unstoppable—not because she has a “perfect body” according to some.
- Former contestant and social‑media influencer Awez Darbar publicly labelled the remarks “absolutely disgusting,” reposting clips shared by Ashnoor’s team to call out the harassment.
- Another celebrity, Gauahar Khan, expressed her disgust at the comments, highlighting how harmful such body‑shaming is, especially when broadcast on national television.
What stands out is that many called for respect and empathy — not only for Ashnoor but for everyone who might struggle with body‑image issues. The public sentiment echoed the view that no one should be humiliated for their appearance.
Show’s Response
Salman Khan, the host of the show, publicly addressed the controversy in a “Weekend Ka Vaar” episode. He confronted Tanya and Neelam, replayed the remarks, and explicitly rejected the notion that such comments were “just jokes.” He asked them who gave them the right to shame someone’s body — calling the insults like “elephant,” “fat,” “dinosaur” deeply offensive and unacceptable.
Salman pointed out that mocking a person’s appearance — especially repeatedly — isn’t trivial, but has a broader social impact, especially since millions of viewers, including young ones, watch the show.
Following this, Tanya and Neelam were asked to apologize. But many viewers felt the apology was inadequate — seeing it as more of a damage‑control move rather than a sincere admission of wrongdoing.
Emotional Impact on Ashnoor & Mental‑Health Concerns
When confronted with the remarks, Ashnoor Kaur became visibly emotional and opened up about her past struggles with body-image issues. She revealed that during her teenage years she had fought an eating disorder, starved herself to reduce weight, and had experienced hormonal imbalance that led to body‑image stress.
She said she avoided clothes she liked, avoided going out, and even stopped meeting friends because she was embarrassed about her appearance. She emphasized that everyone’s body responds differently — and criticized the idea that someone can degrade her for not fitting certain appearance standards.
Her emotional reaction struck a chord with many viewers. The episode triggered widespread discussions about self‑esteem, mental health, and the damaging effects of body‑shaming — especially in environments like reality shows where personal struggles are often amplified.
Why This Controversy Resonated
This controversy is more than just “house drama.” It touches on important social and psychological issues:
- Normalization of body‑shaming: When negative comments about someone’s body are broadcast to millions, it risks normalizing such behaviour, especially among impressionable viewers.
- Mental‑health vulnerability: Reality‑show contestants are humans — with insecurities, past traumas, and emotional fragility. Public humiliation can have severe emotional consequences.
- Dignity & respect over appearance: The uproar underlines that what really matters is a person’s dignity, talent, and character — not adherence to arbitrary beauty standards.
- Media responsibility: Producers and broadcasters need to ensure content doesn’t promote bullying or harmful behaviour, even if it generates “drama.” Viewers, too, should demand empathy over sensationalism.
Many supporters of Ashnoor emphasized that “body‑shaming isn’t content — it’s harassment.”
What This Controversy Shows
- Public figures and regular people alike spoke out — showing that solidarity matters, and kindness should be the baseline, not the exception.
- It reaffirmed that words — especially on a public platform — carry weight, and can hurt deeply. The episode reinforced the need for empathy and respect.
- Viewers and celebrities calling it out means social tolerance for body‑shaming is reducing — a positive shift in societal values.
- It also might push reality-shows and content creators to rethink strategies: drama can be sustained without attacking someone’s body or self‑esteem.
What Sparked the Controvers
The controversy began when a clip from the live‑feed of Bigg Boss 19 went viral, showing Tanya Mittal and Neelam Giri apparently making derogatory remarks about Ashnoor Kaur’s body. Viewers heard them mocking her weight gain — despite reportedly regular gym sessions — suggesting that her workouts did not seem to have any effect.
In the footage, they were heard comparing Ashnoor’s body to animals and using insulting phrases such as “haathi” (elephant), “moti” (fat), and “balloon‑face,” and making fun of how certain clothes “don’t suit” her body type.
The tone was mocking rather than playful, and multiple housemates — not just Tanya and Neelam — reportedly joined or laughed along.
Once this clip circulated on social media, it triggered immediate backlash. Fans and viewers called out the behavior as insensitive, harmful, and unacceptable — many expressing shock that such open body‑shaming could take place on a national television show.
Responses & Backlash
Public Figures and Celebrities Speak Out
Many fellow actors and public personalities condemned the remarks. Notably, Jannat Zubair publicly supported Ashnoor, posting on social media:
Actor Rohan Mehra, who has worked with Ashnoor before, also criticized the body‑shaming:
Former Bigg Boss contestant and social‑media influencer Awez Darbar echoed the sentiment, calling the remarks “disgusting” and praising Ashnoor for her composure.
Similarly, veteran actor Gauahar Khan condemned the comments, calling them a reflection of insecurity rather than valid criticism.
Family Support & Emotional Toll
The backlash wasn’t limited to public figures — Ashnoor’s own family intervened. Her father publicly defended her dignity and criticized those who body‑shamed her, asserting that no one could match her grace and self‑respect.
Inside the show, Ashnoor herself became emotional, opening up about her past struggles with body‑image issues, hormonal imbalance, and even an eating disorder during her teenage years. She revealed that stress inside the Bigg Boss house triggered a “body‑bloat,” and criticized her peers for mocking her natural body changes despite her maintaining a disciplined lifestyle.
Many viewers related to her pain — especially those who have faced body‑image issues — and praised her strength and composure under pressure. Social media saw a flood of supportive comments, urging for empathy rather than mockery.
Show’s Official Response
After the public outcry, the show’s host Salman Khan addressed the matter in a Weekend Ka Vaar episode. He directly confronted Tanya and Neelam in front of other contestants, condemning their remarks as unacceptable — stressing that calling someone “fat,” “elephant,” or “dinosaur” isn’t a joke but harmful harassment.
Salman questioned their sense of “culture and values,” pointing out the irony if those who consider themselves spiritual or respectful indulge in body‑shaming.
The show makers released promos featuring this confrontation, signaling that they are aware of the severity of the backlash. Tanya and Neelam later issued apologies — though many viewers felt these apologies were more a reaction to pressure than genuine remorse.
Why This Controversy Resonated
- Normalizing Body‑Shaming — A Societal Concern
Large‑scale reality shows like Bigg Boss reach millions, including impressionable audiences. When body‑shaming is aired casually, it risks normalizing it. The incident sparked debates across social media about self‑image, societal beauty standards, and the harm of making appearance a source of mockery.
- Mental Health & Emotional Impact
Ashnoor’s confession about past trauma and how such remarks can trigger mental‑health issues struck a chord with many. It highlighted how reality‑show participants are more than just contestants — they are humans with vulnerabilities. The incident underlined the need for psychological support for participants, especially in high-pressure environments.
- Media Responsibility & Ethics
Critics argued that producers should maintain ethical boundaries — drama for TRP should not come at the cost of humans’ dignity. The live‑feed feature especially raises serious questions: what is shown as “real-time reality” influences societal attitudes. This controversy may push content creators to rethink what is acceptable as “entertainment.”
- Body Positivity & Social Change
The collective backlash, from fans to celebrities, reflects changing societal sensibilities. People are increasingly rejecting superficial beauty-based judgments. As echoed by many in response, “Talent, confidence, and dignity matter more than body size.”
Ongoing Debate & What’s Next for Bigg Boss / Reality TV
Because of this controversy, several questions have been raised about the future of reality TV in India:
- Should there be stricter guidelines against body‑shaming and harassment inside reality shows?
- Do producers owe a duty of care — emotional and psychological — to the contestants they put on national TV under constant surveillance?
- Will audiences continue to demand “real drama,” or will there be a shift toward more respectful content?
- Can this incident become a turning point — a warning to all contestants that they are accountable for their words and actions, beyond the “game” context?
As of now, the producers’ public reprimand and pleas for respect — broadcast with a wide reach — may set a precedent. However, whether this leads to structural change in how reality shows handle bullying or harassment remains to be seen.
Lessons & Takeaways For Viewers, Media, and Society
Empathy should be baseline: Appearance-based mockery, especially on public platforms, can cause deep damage. Words matter.
- Mental‑health awareness is essential: Reality‑TV might be “for entertainment,” but participants are real people with emotions — they deserve respect and support.
- Media must balance drama with dignity: Conflict for show ratings is one thing — degrading someone’s body is another. Producers must set ethical boundaries.
- Body positivity is not optional: Societal standards evolve — and acceptance of diverse bodies and respect for individuals is vital.
- Individuals accountable for words: Contestants, viewers, and content creators — all bear responsibility for what they say, share, or broadcast.
What Triggered the Controversy
The controversy around Bigg Boss 19 started when a live‑feed clip showed contestants Tanya Mittal and Neelam Giri making derogatory remarks about fellow contestant Ashnoor Kaur’s body and appearance. Among the comments were dismissive and hurtful lines like — despite regular workouts, she “still kept gaining weight,” and her clothes “did not suit” her body type. One remark reportedly compared her face to a balloon (“fugge jaisa mooh”) and another likened her to an “elephant” (“haathi”), intensifying the emotional gravity of the conversation.
The conversation was not a one‑off. Multiple housemates — including some others besides Tanya and Neelam — allegedly participated or laughed along. Reminiscent comments were heard more than once, creating a pattern rather than an isolated incident.
What makes it worse is that this happened inside a show watched by millions — a reality‑TV platform with wide influence. For a young woman like Ashnoor, undergoing scrutiny for her looks on national television — where even body image becomes public content — the incident struck as deeply personal and distressing to many viewers.
The Public and Celebrity Backlash
Once the clips went viral online, public outrage was swift. Viewers across social media accused Tanya, Neelam (and others involved) of crossing a line. Comments, posts, and messages poured in condemning body‑shaming as “unnecessary,” “cruel,” and “toxic.”
Several celebrities and former contestants also spoke out. Prominent among them was Jannat Zubair, who shared a message on social media: “A person’s body is not public property for jokes and opinions. It’s 2025 — we should’ve evolved past body‑shaming by now.” She praised Ashnoor for her confidence and said talent, not appearance, should matter.
Another name was Awez Darbar — an ex‑contestant and social‑media influencer — who called the comments “absolutely disgusting,” and stood by Ashnoor’s dignity.
Veteran actor Gauahar Khan too condemned the behaviour sharply, calling the remarks shameful and labeling the perpetrators as insecure. She emphasized that mocking a young woman’s body for entertainment is unacceptable.
Further, support poured in from ordinary viewers: many people who had themselves faced body‑image issues resonated with Ashnoor’s pain and thanked her for staying dignified. A large segment of fans also criticized the show’s producers for showing — or initially not addressing — such mockery.
Even Ashnoor’s father spoke out publicly. While reposting the viral clip, he wrote that those mocking his daughter “can’t match her dignity and grace,” calling out their insecurity.
Show’s Response: Official Confrontation & Accountability
After immense public pressure, the show’s host Salman Khan finally addressed the matter on the Weekend Ka Vaar episode. He confronted Tanya and Neelam, replaying the clips and asking them directly — “Who gave you the right to call someone an elephant or dinosaur?” He stressed that words matter, especially on national television, and that such comments were unacceptable.
Salman pointed out the hypocrisy: those calling themselves influencers or “spiritual” personalities — yet indulging in body‑shaming — were sending a harmful message. He emphasised that entertainment is no excuse for humiliation.
Following that, show‑makers released promos showing the confrontation — signalling that they acknowledged the controversy and wanted to convey that the behaviour would not be tolerated. However, many viewers remained skeptical, calling the apology “damage control” rather than genuine remorse.
Ashnoor’s Emotional Response
Amid all this, Ashnoor herself got emotional. On air, she opened up about her past struggles with body‑image issues: hormonal imbalance, periods of eating disorders during teenage years, and intense insecurity about appearance. She revealed that before entering the show she had lost 9 kg — but under stress, her body “bloats up,” and despite healthy lifestyle and workouts, body changes are natural and different for everyone.
She called out the body‑shaming, saying it was not just about her — but about all people who face similar struggles and see their bodies judged on superficial standards. She added that judgement on looks — especially on a national platform — can trigger emotional trauma, anxiety, and long‑term self‑esteem issues.
Her composure and courageous expression of vulnerability struck a chord. Many viewers — especially young people facing body‑image problems — expressed solidarity, calling her brave and praising her honesty. For many, this incident reinforced that body‑shaming is not “just banter,” but can deeply affect mental health.
Why This Incident Matters
Reality TV’s Influence: Shaping Social Norms & Impacting Mental Health
When a show with massive reach — watched by millions including teens and young adults — broadcasts body‑shaming, it risks normalizing bullying disguised as “drama.” The incident triggered a broader public conversation about body‑shaming, self‑image, and the responsibility of media platforms toward participants and audiences.
The swift backlash shows that many viewers no longer accept such toxicity — a sign that societal sensibilities are evolving. This could push content creators to rethink what constitutes “entertainment.”
Mental Health Awareness & Empathy
Ashnoor’s emotional reaction put mental‑health and self‑esteem issues on the mainstream agenda. Her personal story resonated with many — shedding light on how body‑image issues, eating disorders, hormonal imbalance, and societal pressure intertwine.
This incident may encourage more empathy, self‑acceptance, and open conversations about mental health — breaking stigma and discouraging casual mockery of body or appearance.
Holding People — and Producers — Accountable
The criticism wasn’t only towards the contestants — but also towards the show‑runners and production house. Some viewers argued that airing body‑shaming without immediate correction is irresponsible, especially on a national platform. This could prompt regulators or production houses to enforce stricter guidelines against harassment, hate content, or body‑shaming.
Changing Cultural Mindset: Beyond Beauty Standards
The collective backlash — from celebrities, family members, fans, and media — may indicate a shift in cultural mindset: moving away from narrow beauty standards and superficial judgments toward acceptance of body diversity, respect for personal dignity, and valuing talent over appearance.
More Than Just a Show, It’s a Mirror to Society
The body‑shaming episode involving Ashnoor Kaur on Bigg Boss 19 — and the massive reaction it triggered — is more than just television gossip. It reflects deep‑rooted societal issues: beauty standards, insecurity, lack of empathy, and how easily “humor” can turn into harassment when respect is absent.
Ashnoor’s courage in speaking up, the solidarity shown by co‑stars and public figures, and the backlash from viewers give hope that the tide might be turning. Perhaps this moment will push reality‑TV — and audiences — to rethink what kind of content we want to consume and support. If there is a silver lining, it is this: a generation that refuses to accept shaming as “normal,” and demands dignity, empathy, and humanity — even on a stage built for drama.
