Rupankar Bagchi’s controversial remarks about KK sparked outrage on social media. It all started when the national award-winning singer came up with a Facebook live video a few days ago, just hours before KK died in Kolkata. Rupankar, while interacting with fans, questioned the hype surrounding KK’s concert in Kolkata, claiming that there are many artists in Bengal who can sing better than KK. He had no idea what he was getting himself into hours later. Since then, he has been relentlessly mocked, criticized, and subjected to personal insults, as well as receiving death threats over the phone.
And now, in the midst of all the backlash, Rupankar has removed the contentious video that started it all. Because of the gravity of the situation, his wife had to send a letter to the local police station to report the death threats. Not only have netizens condemned the well-known singer’s remarks but so have some of his industry peers. Although no one blames Rupankar for KK’s death, the way he expressed those remarks on his Facebook live embarrassed Bengal because it was unexpected from such a well-known figure.
Rupankar’s Facebook Live video on Tuesday afternoon sparked the debate. Hours before the show, the popular artist made some unpleasant remarks about KK. The singer was not pleased with Bengalis’ enthusiasm for a Mumbai-based singer. He claimed in the video that today’s Bengali performers do not receive the recognition they deserve. “Who is KK, man,” he asked, adding that he and many other Bengali singers can sing better than KK. “Why so much excitement about KK’s concert? Why so much obsession with Mumbai,” some of his questions in his live.
However, in an interview with the media later that evening, Rupankar attempted to clarify himself. He said that his post was misread and that he didn’t want to cast questions on KK’s skills. He was only expressing his dissatisfaction with the general public’s lack of interest in Bengali art and culture. However, the harm had already been done.
