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Canadian rapper Tommy Genesis released an explicit music video earlier this week titled ‘True Blue.’ The artist was painted in Blue, adorned with gold jewellery like necklace, nath, mang-tika, earrings, bangles, and a red bindi. The imagery was of a hindu goddess Maa Kali that sparked the controversy. 

This controversy has stirred global music this week, igniting debates on cultural appropriation, artistic freedom, and religious sensitivity. Canadian rapper Genesis Yasmine Mohanraj, known as Tommy Genesis, has faced intense backlash in both India and the West for her recent music video, which many believe inappropriately uses religious symbols, specifically those of Hindu goddess Maa Kali and Christian icons. 

Who is Tommy Genesis?

Tommy Genesis is a Canadian rapper and Indian-origin model, whose dad is Tamil-Malayali Christian and mother is Swedish. Brought up in Vancouver, she has frequently discussed her South Asian heritage and has worked with such artists as M.I.A. and Charli XCX. A well known boundary pushing artist, her last release has arguably ventured into new territory as a boundary crossing act in the eyes of many observers. 

She began recording music in 2013 and joined the Atlanta-based Awful Records collective in 2015, releasing her debut mixtape ‘World Vision.’ Her songs often feature raw, confessional lyrics about sexuality, identity, and empowerment, earning her the reputation of being one of the most rebellious underground rap artists online.

Why did True Blue Video Spark a Controversy? 

Released on June 22, 2025, the music video shows a blue-painted (with golden jewellery and a red bindi), Tommy Genesis, whose appearance reminded many viewers of Maa Kali, a Hindu deity. In the video, she is seen kissing and tongue-licking a crucifix making a so-called namaste sign, combining the symbols of the two religions, Hinduism and Christianity, in a way that is proving insulting to many.

The video quickly went viral on social media, attracting a wide range of comments, especially from Indians and Hindi-speaking audiences. Many accused her of showing contempt for religious sentiments and engaging in cultural appropriation. 

Raftaar takes the forefront in the Backlash

Indian rapper Raftaar was among the first to criticize the video. He posted a screenshot on YouTube when he reported the video and encouraged his followers to do the same, saying, “It is an insult to my religion. This is something that should not be around.” He demanded that the video be removed and encouraged mass reporting.

On-line Comments: Furor and Pressure to Take it Down

The online outcry was not limited to celebrities. Members of the Hindu and Christian communities also took to social media to express their serious offense and demand action. 

Some of the notable reactions of True Blue Controversy are as follows:

“This creator must be cancelled because wtf is this, stop using our religion for your cheap publicity. Take art classes, do something creative.”

“There’s a line between creative expression and blatant disrespect, and this crosses it. Capitalism or clout-chasing doesn’t justify mocking someone’s faith. Do better.”

“This is PATHETIC.”

“A very dumb video and a very dumb story to justify it. This in no way is representation of roots or your vision, if you call this vision it's crooked.”

“This is not art.”

“Yehi kabi Durse dharm pr krke dekho next day Sar tan se juda hoga 

“Just remove this content for good, impose a fine on her and give her strict warning not to do such acts which might result in hurting the sentiments of people. When it comes to faith no-one will sit quietly and watch.”

The news post shared on social media platforms by leading news portals such as India Today, received many such comments where people discussed thread comments adding fuel to the fire. Another observation made by several users is that of a perceived western trend of using Indian culture in their art to shock and trend, and one user made this comment, stating, “Hijacking the Hindu culture to get attention has become a trend among these so-called Westerners.”

Response of Tommy Genesis

At the time this was written, Tommy Genesis had not sent a formal apology or even addressed the backlash to her social media pages. In a previous interview with Office Magazine (not directly related to this controversy), she stated,“If you like it, you like it, and if you don’t, you don’t. We don’t care. It’s not for you. It could be not for you for a lot of reasons—where you are in your life or your beliefs.”  This statement has done little to quell the outrage, with many demanding a more direct response to the concerns raised.

The Bigger argument: art, appropriation and respect.

This controversy has reignited the debate about where to draw the line between artistic freedom and respect for religious sentiments. Though there are people who argue that the artist has a right to provoke and challenge the norms, currently, there is a far stronger reaction online, which states that faith and sacred symbols should be treated with more sensitivity, particularly in a globalised world where the difference in culture is an important factor more than ever before.

One netizen summed up the whole controversy saying, “There’s a difference between inspiration and insult. Know the difference.” The other viewer said, “I like the song but the music videos are too insulting towards Christianity and Hinduism.” This shows that people are criticizing not because the music was bad or the artist is not worthy of the fame but because she looked like maa kali, wore a bikini, and did some explicit gestures that offended 2 communities. 

The controversy of the music video, True Blue, reminds people of the extent of power social media has and the responsibility that artists need to adhere to in the digital era. To the artist it is an appeal to avoid harming the culture and religion in any way. To audiences it is the time to contemplate what should be said and what should not. Although the video’s depiction may be offensive to some, excessively harsh comments that the artist is receiving is not entirely justifiable either.

An Indian-American professor named Rajeshwari Iyer has set the internet ablaze after assigning the responsibility of the cause of the Air India crash that killed more than 270 individuals to India's reservation system.

Iyer, who studied in India, put up a recruitment notice by the Airports Authority of India for air traffic controller posts, with the caption, "Even the post of 'Air Traffic Controller' has reservations. Means: In India, freeloaders are more important than safety."

The post was made a day after the London-bound flight AI 171 crashed in Ahmedabad just minutes after takeoff.

Iyer also added, "We lose many British citizens including Indian citizens. 241 perished in a plane crash. What a sorry system (sic)."

While there were a lot of netizens who backed her, others criticized her for supposed caste bias and for using a national tragedy to advance ideological positions.

"The crash occurred because of malfunctioning of Boeing Dreamliner, produced by a USA company, due to loss of thrust. No fault of crew. So relax a bit. (sic)," a user posted on X.

Another writer said, "Firstly, let's not jump to conclusions yet. Secondly, hope where one day such super brains and naturalized citizens of other 'first world' countries (through parents or own) like you, set right the shortcomings of this nascent Indian democracy and do everything so that it emerges out of decades of colonialism and outmoded thinking and depredations."

Certain online users also referred to previous air accidents that involved non-reserved category professionals, questioning her assertion that reservation-based recruitment was at fault.

Iyer, an alumni of premier institutions like NIT Puducherry and IIT Delhi, also caused a similar furore last year by asserting that Brahmins are the most exploited Indians.

Last year in September, Iyer posted on X, "Brahmins are less than 2% of the population. They are the most exploited and abused among all Indians. Nevertheless, 60% of all Nobel Prizes taken by Indians were Brahmins."

Instagram is a place of entertainment, wealth, and fame. It is a trending platform with the potential of making careers overnight. In 2025, Instagram is no longer a place where people share photos just for flexing their outfits or lifestyle, but a place where people post to influence others. More than 300 million active Indian users and an emerging influencer ecosystem are making Instagram the most convenient environment to promote creators, entrepreneurs, and professionals without any analog in the country. Here are five compelling reasons why Instagram is the best place to build your career in 2025.

Potential of High earnings among creators

By the end of 2025, the Indian influencer marketing sector will reach 22 billion rupees, through Instagram, being the epicentre of this frenzy. Currently, Indian influencers earn between ₹20,000 and ₹1,60,000 per month, depending on their niche and follower engagement. Top creators can earn over ₹10 lakh per post through brand partnerships, launching their own product lines, and leveraging Instagram’s monetization features. Even at the micro and nano levels, influencers are making their hobby their livelihood with the help of the strong monetization aspect of Instagram.

Vast and Dynamic Indian Consumer Base

The Indian user base on Instagram is huge and covers both metro as well as Tier 2 and 3 cities. The medium with the biggest viewership is 18-24, and second is 25-34 hence it is a hot target area of brands that want to target the aspirational Indian youth. As more penetration is achieved in the rural internet sections, regional creators are rising in popularity, and brands are willing to spend a fortune on local marketers to access new markets. This diversity ensures that whether your niche is fashion, technology, food, or finance, there is an active and engaged community ready to support your growth.

Strong Engagement and Conversion Tools

The 2025 algorithm of Instagram prioritizes regularity, engagement, and unique formats of content (such as Reels and Stories). Especially short-form videos generate increased engagement and a more frequent design of brand collaborations. According to Sprout Social, 29% of Indian users shop directly through Instagram, making it the third most popular social commerce platform in the country. Instagram Shops, affiliate links and in-app check out are a few features that enable creators and businesses to effortlessly turn followers into buyers.

Job Possibilities outside of Influencing

Influencers are not the only ones on Instagram. The platform has turned into a marketplace of talents that deal with digital marketers, content strategists, designers, and even tech folks. As brands shift towards mobile-first and video-led campaigns, the demand of experienced workers familiar with the specifics of Instagram will skyrocket. Whether you want to deliver freelance services or wish to become a brand consultant and get a permanent position in one of the leading brands, Instagram actively attracts recruiters and business organizations that seek talents.

Learning and Continuous Innovation

The Instagram environment is constantly changing and is developing new features such as AI analytics, sophisticated content creation tools, and improved options to monetize. It enables creators and professionals to act fast, respond to changes, enhance their strategies, and remain relevant in digital trends. Instagram is an excellent learning tool, a living classroom because, to Indians who hold a learning and growth culture, each post, story, and reel is yet another way to upskill and earn.

In 2025, Instagram stands out as the ultimate platform for Indian professionals and creators, thanks to its massive reach, high earning potential, vibrant community, and ever-evolving features. Whether you are an aspiring influencer, creative professional, or entrepreneur, Instagram offers the tools and audience you need to build a successful digital career. Be it an aspiring influencer, an artistic soul, or a business-wise person, the next great career option of yours is on Instagram. Use this free platform and build a rewarding career in 2025.

Saudi Arabia murdered more than 330 individuals in 2024 alone, human rights estimates suggest. And in this, the execution of a reporter for tweets is no exception—it's a message, writes Edinbox senior scribe Nibedita.

Journalism is not terrorism. A tweet is not treason. And Turki Al-Jasser should have lived to pen many more of them.

In an era where a single blog can be used to magnify truth or opposition, journalism and treason are becoming indistinguishable from each other—at least in Saudi Arabia. The recent beheading of journalist Turki Al-Jasser on charges of spreading his opinions on the internet has left the world of journalism and the universe of human rights gasping in its aftermath. It is not only a haunting tale of power abuse, but a sort of amnesia at how totalitarian regimes still view speaking truth to be punished as a crime.

Al-Jasser, an old journalist in his late 40s, was picked up in 2018. His offense? Tweets criticizing corruption, women's rights, and the threat that militant groups posed—most of them tweeted anonymously. Human rights organization Reprieve says he was tried in secret and sentenced to death, whose sentence was recently carried out. His offense, they claim, was "just journalism."

This case frighteningly recalls the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist murdered within the Saudi consulate in Istanbul—a killing American intelligence believes was sanctioned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The international outcry at the time was so promising. But seven years on, not much has changed. If anything, the room for dissent has narrowed further.

The Saudi government still functions under the cover of anti-terrorism, employing lax legislation to muzzle criticism. From a Bank of America staff member imprisoned for a tweet he deleted to dual citizen U.S.-Saudi Saad Almadi found guilty for tweets because he had been resident in the U.S., it is apparent that speech online is being criminalized—even retroactively.

Turki Al-Jasser was not a criminal. He was a responsible journalist, who defied silence in an arena where silence is dictated by weapons. The fact that his trial was held in secrecy, where nobody knows anything about it, indicates the institutionalized erosion of transparency.

This is not only a Saudi problem. This is an observation of how the world still facilitates such regimes with silence and transactional foreign policy. When governments and corporations value transactions more than human rights, they enable authoritarianism.

Hate comments have now become a rampant phenomenon in the digital era disrupting the lives of the people, society and even national discourse. But why? Do you know what triggers them to post hate comments? Recent studies and psychological researches give a unique and fact-based insight into the psychology of online hate, and discloses a complicated interrelation of individual characteristics, social influences and loopholes in the regulation.

Why do People Post Hate Comments?

1. Emotional Frustration and Jealousy: It has been found that hate comments are posted by individuals who become frustrated and envious when the personal objectives or ambitions are not achieved. As an example, when India’s Got Latent was called out by the court, people started to post hate comments and abusive comments on the post of judges along with the core team. This trend is not unusual, public figures, celebrities, and even regular users become targets in case their followers are disappointed or jealous.
2. Exposure and Desensitization: In a fMRI study published in 2023, it was shown that desensitization to hate speech repeated exposure can decrease empathy, which in turn increases the possibility of the individual conducting such treatment. This compassion collapse translates to the fact that individuals become desensitized to the suffering of others in life, particularly subjects belonging to the perceived outsiders or outgroups.
3. Social Contagion and Group Process: Hate speech is contagious. When hateful speech becomes an accepted way of communication within people's online environments, they are more likely to engage in them. Group dynamics further support this because projecting hate may get to be an approach of sharing the idea that one is loyal to a specific group or community. 

The Mentality of Hate Commenters

According to a seminal research published in Frontiers in Psychology, those who write hate comments online are frequently so psychopathic that they possess the character trait of egocentricity, lack of sympathy, and moral depravity. Although other characteristics (such as envy or narcissism) may be used, psychopathy was identified as the most reliable predictor of online hate.

The perceived anonymity of the internet reduces social inhibitions, and one can express hate without fear of offending them in real life. This so-called online disinhibition effect promotes individuals to utter things that they would never have said face to face.

Some post hate messages in an attempt to express anger, establish dominance or gain a sense of power where they feel powerless. This may be encouraged by the immediate response loop of likes, shares or replies.

What is the Government Doing?

Hate comments have a severe and broad range of physical and psychological effects, such as mental illnesses, bullying, and physical violence, yet there is little government control over them. Laws against hate speech already exist in many countries, and India is one of them; however, implementation is commonly feeble, and statutory definitions may not be clear, or even adequate. Platforms are inconsistent in dealing with hate comments, and a lot of them are not caught.

Some governments and organizations are trying an alternative to harsh censorship: counterspeech: responding to hate with empathy or corrections to the facts. A 2021 study conducted at ETH Zurich showed that the empathy-based counter speech is capable of countering hate speech, but only to a moderate degree. Nevertheless, this type of intervention is not common and systematic yet.

These hate messages actually produce real-life consequences to the victims, causing anxieties, depressions, and insecurities- even in the non-digital space. The most impacted people are usually those in marginalized groups and the psychological effects and aftermath can be long-term.

A combination of personal frustration, hard personality characteristics, social contagion, and the enabling atmosphere of online anonymity contribute to the mindset of hate comments. Despite the promising results of some of the interventions, there is a lot left to do on the platform and policy level. To students, teachers and policy makers, these triggers and mindsets are what they should understand to create healthier communities online.   

Social media hate comments are increasing day by day; it is now a necessity to educate people, make strict laws, and have control over such unethical practices to  prevent social, personal, and national harm.

As a parent, you have likely realized that career trends are changing rapidly. The times when the only prestigious options were doctor, engineer, or government officer are long behind. With more than 700 million Indians now having access to the internet and digital applications such as YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook being household words, a slew of digital careers has presented themselves to the next generation.

However, is your child truly future-career-ready? It is time to examine what and what is not required, and which are the careers in the field or social media that are not only in fashion but also in terms of potential growth and returns that they will yield.

What you Need: Skills and Attitudes in Social Media Professions

• Creativity and Communication: Regardless of what you want to do in the digital industry, creativity and clear communication are core activities that lie at the center of any digital profession.
• Adaptability: The world of the internet evolves quickly. The most successful are the ones that are ready to consider new tools, trends (such as the short-form videos or AI-driven content) and formats.
• Technical Know-How: A basic understanding of digital knowledge including editing videos and learning to interpret analytical information is the only essential.
• Unity and Professionalism: Rare are people who become successful overnight. Making a brand, be it personal or commercial is time consuming and requires discipline and professionalism. 
• Relatable and Personalised Approach: For anything to go viral on social media, relatability and personalisation is needed. All the new and old content creators and social media figures who  are earning well have ensured that they are highly relatable and are adhering to UGC (user generated content). 

Top Social Media Careers for the Future

Here are some of the most promising and high-return social media careers one can pursue to be relevant in the future and be not replaced by AI: 

Social Media Career Myths

“Social media careers do not exist.” 

This is no longer the case. In India, the occupation of the social media worker has become one of the most rapidly developed and well-paid in the digital economy.

“Only the celebs can make it.”

There is a blistering boom in the number of local creators and niche specialists today, driving huge followings and gaining a solid income even without any of the Bollywood fame.

“It is an entertainment business.”

The social media careers that exist today consist of news, education, finance, health, etc. and this is not a comedy, but real, influential work that is found online.

“Social Media Content Creation is a hobby not a profession” 

The era has changed; once what was considered a hobby is now an actual profession that pays well. 

What Can Parents Do To Help Their Child?

1. Encourage Skill-Building: Encourage your child to engage in content development, video editing, or social media internship.
2. Encourage Digital Literacy: Instruct them on internet security, copyright and safe online conduct.
3. Stay Informed: Watch webinars, read the trends, and consult with industry experts.
4. Balance: Though digital professions sound very bright, they do require good preparation in communication, ethics and time management.

The prospects are not imaginary as the social media environment in India booms. Provided he is creative, flexible and enthusiastic, a work with social media will be not only gratifying but also future-proof. Your interest as a parent is to advise, assist, and remain receptive to the new options that the universe of digital engages.

Keep in mind that the future lies in the hands of people who are willing to learn, evolve, and invent. So, let your child pursue a future-career by staying relevant, creative, and adaptable.