Chinmayi Sripaada Targeted With Morphed Image; Says Her Children Received Death Threats

Singer Chinmayi Sripada has publicly shared that she received a morphed nude image of herself through social media. The digitally altered image, created and circulated without her consent, was spread by anonymous accounts. Following this incident, she faced intense online abuse. She stated that some messages even contained threats directed at her children, prompting her to approach the cybercrime police and request an official investigation.

She explained that the harassment was not an isolated incident. Over the past few months, she has frequently been targeted by trolling campaigns, especially after her husband, Rahul Ravindran, made a remark about the mangalsutra during an interview. The comment triggered online outrage among certain groups, leading several users to direct their anger towards Chinmayi. She described the attacks as organised and persistent, adding that the morphed image was simply the latest escalation in a continuing pattern of harassment.

In her video message addressing the situation, Chinmayi spoke about the emotional impact of the threats. She said the incident was frightening not because of the morphed image itself, but because of the disturbing messages she received afterward. She stressed that the threats directed at her children crossed every boundary and that such behaviour should never be dismissed as casual trolling or online banter.

Chinmayi also used her platform to highlight the rapid rise of deepfake and AI-generated content, which is increasingly being used to target women, especially public figures. She noted that many women choose not to come forward due to fear of judgement, even though they are not responsible for the abuse they endure. Through her message, she encouraged others to report such incidents and seek legal support instead of silently tolerating harassment.

Following her complaint, the cybercrime police initiated an inquiry to identify those responsible for circulating the image and threatening her family. Chinmayi’s supporters have praised her for speaking out once again, despite having faced repeated trolling in the past, including after she took a strong stand during the #MeToo movement in South India.

Her recent statements have revived discussions on the need for stronger digital safety frameworks, particularly for women who experience targeted harassment, personal threats, and the growing misuse of morphed images. Chinmayi has said she refuses to be shamed into silence and will continue calling out the dangers of online abuse.