"Do you feel ashamed? I think you don't?"
Subhashree Ganguly faced backlash after posting pictures with Lionel Messi, following chaotic scenes at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
The Bengali actress took pictures with the football icon on December 13, who was in India as part of his GOAT India Tour.
Messi was joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.
However, the event descended into chaos as angry fans hurled bottles and chairs as they were unable to see Messi.
Amid the disorder, Subhashree shared pictures with Messi and wrote:
“Represented the Bengali Film Fraternity at The G.O.A.T India Tour @leomessi.”
Her post drew criticism as many accused her of being “tasteless” and insensitive towards fans who paid to attend the event.
Some claimed she was “rubbing salt into fans’ wounds”.
One person asked: “Do you feel ashamed? I think you don’t?”
Another man said: “I came to see Messi after paying 12,000 rupees for the ticket, but I got to see Subhashree’s dance instead.”
Amid the backlash, Subhashree’s husband, filmmaker Raj Chakrabarty, defended her and criticised the event’s organisers.
In a lengthy post on December 14, he wrote: “Let me say this at the outset: The chaos at Yuva Bharati Krirangan yesterday was completely uncalled for and truly painful. It was an insult to football and to football-loving Bengalis.
“The city has witnessed such chaos earlier during East Bengal Mohun Bagan matches.
“Despite being aware of similar past incidents, how did such a major lapse in planning and structural preparedness occur for an event of this scale?”
Raj asked: “Were the organisers unaware of Messi’s popularity?
“Among the invitees at yesterday’s event was Shubhashree Ganguly, representing the Bengali film industry. Unfortunately, amid this chaos, she is now being made to pay the price for simply being present.
“Her ‘crime’ was posting a photograph with Messi on social media.”
“Those who are trolling must remember that how they treat a person, especially a woman, will leave a lasting imprint. The next generation will learn from this behaviour.
“There is a vast difference between protest and humiliation, and it is crucial to understand and explain that difference.
“The chaos that occurred yesterday, whatever unfolded inside the stadium, has absolutely no connection with Shubhashree. Like all of you, she had also gone there to see a footballing legend.
“She too is deeply hurt by what happened. Yesterday’s disorder was an insult to Bengal – an insult to Bengalis.”
Raj’s comments prompted further backlash, with social media users wondering how Shubhashree represented the Bengali film industry.
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