Popular YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, also known by his online persona BeerBiceps, has landed in controversy after posting — and subsequently deleting — a message addressed to “Pakistani brothers and sisters” on Instagram.
The now-deleted post, which aimed to express solidarity with the Pakistani public while condemning state-sponsored terrorism, drew severe backlash online, particularly from Indian netizens outraged in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
The incident comes amid tense India-Pakistan relations following the attack that killed civilians and security personnel, and India’s military response under Operation Sindoor.
Allahbadia’s post, shared on his verified Instagram handle @beerbiceps, consisted of multiple text slides in which he made a distinction between the Pakistani populace and the Pakistani military and ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). He explicitly condemned Pakistan’s alleged role in terrorism while also attempting to communicate empathy toward ordinary Pakistani citizens.
“Dear Pakistani Brothers & Sisters, I will get hate from many Indians for this, but it is important to be said… Just like many Indians, I don’t have hate in my heart for you. Many of us want peace as well,” the post began.
Allahbadia went on to state that Pakistan is run not by a democratic government but by its military and intelligence services, blaming them for years of instability, economic hardship in Pakistan, and terror attacks in India.
He listed what he claimed were three pieces of proof:
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“All terrorists that have been caught over the years are originally from Pakistan.”
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“Your military leaders attended the state funeral of Hafiz Abdur Rauf, brother of Jaish-E-Mohammed chief.”
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“Your defense minister Khawaja Asif recently admitted to state-sponsored terrorism on Sky News.”
Despite these pointed claims, Allahbadia insisted his message was not about hate:
“Dil se sorry agar lag raha hai ki hum nafrat faila rahe hai. The Indian who have met Pakistanis, UNDERSTAND you. But both Indian & Pakistani media… are currently spreading lies.”
He ended the post by framing the conflict as India vs Pakistani military and ISI, not Indians vs Pakistanis, and expressed hope for peace “in the long term, Inshallah.”
The post quickly drew heavy criticism, particularly from Indian users accusing Allahbadia of being tone-deaf during a period of national mourning and heightened tensions. Many pointed out that highlighting empathy for Pakistanis so soon after a brutal terror attack was inappropriate and insensitive.
Hashtags like #UnfollowBeerBiceps, #ApologizeToIndia, and #PahalgamMatters began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with users calling for boycotts and accusing him of playing a “false equivalence” game between India and Pakistan.
Faced with the outrage, Allahbadia quietly deleted the post within hours. However, screenshots of the message continued to circulate widely on social media.
As of Sunday afternoon, Ranveer Allahbadia has not issued a formal clarification or apology. His team has also remained silent despite media requests for comment.
While some social media users appreciated the nuanced approach of his message and acknowledged that he was trying to encourage people-to-people peace, the timing and framing have led to a significant dent in his public perception — especially in an emotionally charged national climate.
The incident highlights how public figures, especially influencers with millions of followers, are being held accountable for the tone and content of their statements, particularly on sensitive geopolitical issues.
