Mumbai: Indian rapper Badshah found himself at the centre of an online storm after a tweet about pop star Dua Lipa sparked criticism for being inappropriate and sexist.
The controversy began on June 6 at 4 a.m., when Badshah tweeted a simple “Dua lipa ❤️,” which many assumed was a gesture of admiration or a hint at a possible collaboration. A curious fan replied asking, “Are you making a track with her bhai ? 🤩🤯.”
Badshah’s response — “I’d rather make babies with her bro” — triggered swift and sharp backlash on social media. Many users slammed him for what they saw as a crude and disrespectful remark, especially in an era where online harassment of women is under increasing scrutiny.
Social Media Backlash
The internet did not hold back. One user posted, “EWWWWW what a creep. Women really can’t catch a break online or IRL,” while another wrote, “What’s with this ‘have babies’ joke? How can you say that and not be so disgusted with yourself you want to bathe!”
The backlash was fierce, with tweets calling him out for “nibba behaviour,” “no class,” and even accusing him of sexual harassment in the most explicit terms.
Badshah Responds: ‘It Was a Compliment’
On Thursday, Badshah attempted to clarify his statement with a new tweet:
“I think one of the most beautiful compliments that you could give to a woman that you really admire is to wish for her to mother your children. Meri soch nahi tumhari soch saamne aayi hai.”
He suggested that the backlash revealed more about the critics than about him, framing his statement as a form of admiration rather than objectification.
More Trolling Follows
Instead of calming the situation, Badshah’s explanation sparked more trolling.
Comments included:
- “Kaisa wahiyat cover-up tha bhai”
- “Your comment about Dua Lipa was not just offensive, it was downright cheap. Spare us the act of playing saint now.”
- “Grow up, weirdo!”
- “Bhai, cover-up thik se kar liya karo 😭”
While some fans tried to defend him, the majority of users found his defense tone-deaf and inadequate.