Television actor Gautami Kapoor, wife of actor Ram Kapoor, has addressed the backlash she received online after a remark she made about teaching openness with her children. The comment, which touched on the topic of giving her daughter a sex toy as a form of education about her body, sparked significant trolling and nasty reactions on social media. Gautami has now spoken out about the personal impact the trolling had on her and reiterated the intent behind her words.
The controversy began during an interview promoting her work, when Gautami spoke openly about how she strives to break taboos around sex education and body awareness within her family. She mentioned that conversations about physical wellness and respect for one’s own body should be normalised between parents and children. In that context, she illustrated her belief in fostering safe, honest dialogue at home, including candid discussions about sex and bodily autonomy.
However, the moment social-media users latched onto one particular phrase, concerning gifting a sex toy to her daughter “for educational reasons”, the discussion quickly turned toxic. Critics and trolls accused her of being inappropriate, insensitive, or attention-seeking, and comments online ranged from mocking to outright hostile. Many reposted snippets without context, fuelling misinterpretation and anger.
In response, Gautami clarified that her intention was never to sensationalise or shock. Speaking to the media after the online backlash, she said that her remarks were about promoting openness, consent, and understanding one’s own body in a healthy, safe environment. She explained that the specific example had been used metaphorically to underscore the importance of demystifying topics many families avoid. “That line of conversation was meant to highlight how parents can encourage education and comfort, not anything gratuitous,” she explained.
Gautami admitted that seeing the online trolling affected her personally. She said that at first, she was taken aback by the intensity of reactions and found some of the commentary deeply upsetting. “I was surprised and, to be honest, depressed by a lot of the language used,” she said. The criticism, she noted, was less about differing viewpoints and more about ridiculing or shaming a mother for discussing sex education.
The actor also drew attention to how quickly nuanced conversations can be distorted on social platforms, where moments are clipped and shared without context. Gautami stressed that this trend discourages meaningful discourse on issues like body positivity, informed consent, and open parent-child communication. She urged followers and critics alike to engage with such topics thoughtfully rather than resorting to trolling.
Support from fans and peers began to trickle in after her statement. Many commented that society needs more frank discussions about education on consent and respect, not less. Others pointed out that discussion about adult themes should be handled responsibly but shouldn’t be treated as taboo. A number of social-media users apologised for mischaracterising her remarks and encouraged a calmer, more respectful dialogue.
Gautami concluded her response by saying that while the negativity was hard to stomach, she remains committed to promoting respectful, informed conversations. She emphasised that parents should feel empowered to discuss bodily autonomy and personal safety with their children in age-appropriate ways, and that demonising such discussion does little to protect or educate the younger generation.