Hapur, Uttar Pradesh : In a bizarre turn of events, a couple’s relationship hit rock bottom over a rather unexpected reason – social media followers. The incident, which unfolded in Hapur, has now caught public attention as the dispute escalated all the way to the local police station.
The wife alleged that at her husband’s insistence, she had to wash utensils in the kitchen, which led to a drop of two followers on her social media account. "I need to make reels and grow my followers. Doing household chores cost me valuable followers," the wife reportedly stated during police counselling.
The husband, on the other hand, accused his wife of being excessively addicted to Instagram. According to him, she spends most of her time making reels and neglects all household responsibilities. He further claimed that whenever he asked her to stop creating reels, she would threaten him by showing a viral ‘blue drum’ reel, implying a potential threat referencing a past violent incident from Meerut.
The husband also alleged that his wife has, on multiple occasions, denied him meals and engages in frequent arguments whenever she loses followers. "This has become a repeated issue. We have already attempted reconciliation twice, but she now refuses to return home," he said in his complaint.
Multiple Counselling Sessions, No Resolution
On Monday, both parties were called to the women’s police station in Hapur. Inspector Aruna Rai spent nearly four hours counselling the couple, but no resolution could be reached. The wife remained adamant, stating that her priority is her social media presence and increasing her follower count.
The wife has also filed a case against her husband in the Hapur court, accusing him and his family of harassment and domestic pressure.
Police Statement
City Circle Officer (CO City) Jitendra Sharma confirmed the incident, stating, "The husband complained that his wife spends most of her time on Instagram, creating reels, and avoids household responsibilities. The wife countered that household work prevents her from uploading reels on time, leading to a decrease in followers."
Although counselling was conducted, and both initially agreed to a truce, the wife later refused to compromise, insisting on pursuing her social media career.
A Reflection of Changing Times
This incident sheds light on the growing influence of social media on personal relationships. What once may have been a private domestic matter has now evolved into a legal dispute, driven by the modern-day pressures of online validation and follower counts.