Kusha Kapila Claps Back at 'Random Celebrity' Meme with Poignant Response

New Delhi: Kusha Kapila, a well-known content creator and digital icon, made waves with her presence at the Cannes Film Festival back in. Although she is not attending this year’s edition, currently underway in France, she is once again in the spotlight, this time, not for fashion but for a bold rebuttal to a viral meme that dismissively labeled influencers as “random celebrities”.

The meme in question, posted on Reddit, featured a collage juxtaposing a film scene with images of Kusha Kapila, Urvashi Rautela, and Ranveer Allahbadia. The movie still, starring Seth Rogen and Catherine O’Hara, commented on the growing trend of influencers attending prestigious events like Cannes, getting photographed on the red carpet, and then leaving without participating in the actual screenings. This commentary mirrors sentiments that have gained traction in recent years as influencer culture permeates high-profile platforms.

Kusha, not one to stay silent, responded directly in the comments section—though her comment has since been removed. She stated, "You have taken a picture of mine from 2023, slapped on a meme that you are likely making about this year's Cannes film festival. I have already been called out plenty that year, reflected, course corrected, and done my share of apologising and never been seen in a place where I don't deserve a place."

She went to clarify misconceptions about her participation. Refuting claims that influencers simply attend red carpet events without engaging meaningfully, Kusha added, "For context, I did attend the screening that day for the show, The Idol, and sat through two episodes of the show and also posted an honest review. It was a terrible show. I posted pictures and stories from inside the screening so no, I didn't just exit from the red carpet."

Reasserting her stance, she emphasized her identity as a creator and not some fleeting spectacle. "Historically, companies HAVE sponsored celebrities and actors to walk the red carpet... It's not a trend started by creators/influencers. Calling me out for not yet making a mark as an actor is fair... but please don't refer to me as a random celebrity. Calling someone's entire existence random is not cool. I am a creator. Call me that, please. It's a meme for you. For me, it's my identity."

This poignant response, layered with candor and conviction, underscores the constant tug-of-war between traditional celebrating and the rising cultural capital of digital creators, often unfairly trivialized.

The 78th Cannes Film Festival began on May 13 and will run through May 24. Esteemed names like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, and Simi Garewal will be gracing the red carpet this year.