Cinema VinesActress, television host, and former Bigg Boss Malayalam 1 contestant Pearle Maaney has seen a sharp decline in her social‑media following after she posted a lengthy message about the student protests that began in Kerala in late July. The actress, who had roughly 2.7 million followers on Instagram on 24 July, now reports fewer than 2.4 million followers, a loss of more than 300,000 accounts in just two days. Similar drops have been noted on her YouTube and Facebook channels.
Maaney’s post, which she described as “painful” and “heart‑breaking,” urged students to stay safe and not risk their lives for the cause. She wrote, “If your life is in danger, go back home. No cause is worth losing a life over.” While expressing support for a fair education system, she also cautioned that the movement’s original purpose should not be eclipsed by the intensity of emotions that accompany large‑scale protests.
After the backlash intensified, Maaney disabled comments on the protest post, claiming the comments section was a “reflection of my freedom of speech.” The decision sparked further criticism, with users accusing her of silencing dissent and of benefiting from a “silver spoon” that others do not have. One commenter noted, “You don’t understand pressure because you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. We weren’t.” Another remarked, “Why don’t you just delete the post itself?”
In a separate Instagram Story, Maaney took a dig at filmmaker Sibi Malayil, stating that her post had “triggered so many people” and that the filmmaker had “added chili powder and ajinomoto” to make it “unhealthy.” She also claimed her favourite colour was saffron, a comment that drew further scrutiny.
Despite the criticism, Maaney has continued to engage her audience, though her posts have been met with spam from those who oppose her views. The situation underscores the volatile nature of celebrity commentary on social media, especially when touching on politically charged topics such as student activism.
