Harsha Bhogle gets serious flak on social media after promo prank goes wrong
An eventful day in cricket with MS Dhoni giving up Chennai Super Kingsโ captaincy and Ravindra Jadeja taking on the reins turned even more dramatic when Harsha Bhogle mysteriously vanished during an Instagram Live session with panic calls heard in the background.
The event, a live talk show with CricketSportwalkin quickly turned viral on social media when Harsha Bhogle, while talking about the upcoming IPL season and the chances of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, dropped his phone. The anchor appeared to not realise that it was a panic call and carried on before feigning that something had happened to Harsha Bhogle. Panic calls could be heard in the background with multiple voices raising alarms.
The video quickly went viral all over social media with fans expressing genuine concerns about the well being of Harsha Bhogle. Concerns multiplied also due to reports on ABP Live earlier in the day about terrorists possibly targeting the Wankhede stadium, where a large majority of IPL 2022 matches would take place.
The event in question
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WATCH THE VIDEO WHERE HARSHA BHOGLE DROPPED HIS PHONE
What just happened? Is @bhogleharsha okay???
I NEED ANSWERS. pic.twitter.com/TrhU55gIxj
โ JD (@JaidevNandi) March 24, 2022
Concerns rose on social media as fans, journalists and the entire sports fraternity froze at the scenes and expressed concerns over Harshaโs well being. Even as a few hinted at it being part of a promotional event, it seemed rather unlikely given the sequence of events at that point of time.
Reputed journalist Sunandan Lele soon confirmed Harsha was fine on social media, without exactly referring to what exactly transpired behind the scenes.
@bhogleharsha is all well not to worry
โ Sunandan Lele (@sunandanlele) March 24, 2022
As fans awaited for an official confirmation from Bhogle, close relatives and Harsha himself clarified that it was a gimmick that went completely wrong, sending social media into a frenzy with the experienced broadcaster copping serious flak.
Folks, just clarifying that all is well with @bhogleharsha. It was a promo that went viral and unfortunately got everyone worried. Thanks for the love and concern.
โ Anita Bhogle (@BhogleAnita) March 24, 2022
I am fine. Sorry to have got a lot of you worried. Thank you for the love and concern. It became more viral than I anticipated. That too is a learning. It was meant to lead to something else. Sorry. And cheers.
โ Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 24, 2022
You learn something new everyday. It seemed a lighthearted thing to do but in its execution, it became something that I didnโt think it would. I am actually a bit embarrassed now. https://t.co/OwFrwb6vm9
โ Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 24, 2022
Fans reacted wildly to the incident, criticising Harsha Bhogle for sending panic waves through the entire fraternity with the promotional activity.
Read this story maybe. Might help you get a better perspective.
pic.twitter.com/jmo38PagnV
โ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ (@outof22yards) March 24, 2022
This is shameful. Didnโt expect this from Harsha https://t.co/aFokfygs6Y
โ Khurram Aziz (@khurramaziz123) March 24, 2022
Next if Harsha gets beaten by someone bad, we consider it as a prank & move
โ arfan (@Im__Arfan) March 24, 2022
How petty it is man! Never expected someone like Harsha sb as dignified as him to stoop this low. Very disappointed
โ Abdullah (@KasaSaaz) March 24, 2022
Outright pathetic.
After auctioneer incident, everyone was in panic. This wonโt go down well.
โ Shri ๐ต
(@4thUmpire_) March 24, 2022
Come on Harsha. Hope this was not part of any promotions or something. This kind of prank/promo is worrying. God forbid if something serious happens we will think it to be another promo and avoid it taking seriously. Now itโs your responsibility to clarify.
โ
Taus Rizvi
Maybe Dhoni stepping down from captaincy was also for a promo/prank. Letโs wait for his tweet.
โ absy (@absycric) March 24, 2022
Doing such cheap stunts when people have witnessed an auctioneer collapse a month ago, players collapsing on the ground.. Incredibly daft! https://t.co/4j80as8w8U
โ Sandy (@ThatWickedGuy_) March 24, 2022
The last two years has got the world even more worried.. every small news is scary. Weโve had a lot of misery, lived a lot in fear since 2020 and the least people can do is at least not purposely scare people like that.
Itโs not fair just for a stupid promo or whatever.
โ Sarah Waris (@swaris16) March 24, 2022