Social media influencer Payal Dhare, widely known as Payal Gaming, has spoken out after a video circulating online was linked to her name. In a detailed statement shared on Wednesday, Payal made it clear that she is not the person shown in the video and that it has no connection to her life, identity, or personal choices.
In her post, Payal urged both the public and media outlets to refrain from sharing, reproducing, or speculating about the video in any form.
Terming the entire episode as deeply distressing and personal, Payal said that content circulating over the past few days has falsely associated her name and image with the viral clip. She stated clearly and without ambiguity that the individual shown in the video is not her and that the material has nothing to do with her life or decisions.
Who is Payal Dhare, aka Payal Gaming?
Payal Dhare, aka Payal Gaming, is a well-known YouTuber famous for her gaming videos and live streams. She hails from a small village called Chhindwara near Indore in Madhya Pradesh and has a massive following of 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube.
In the same social media post, she reiterated her appeal, asking people and media platforms to avoid sharing or speculating about the content in any manner.
She also confirmed that legal action is being taken against the misuse of her name and likeness and said steps are underway to ensure accountability as per the law.
Payal had earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year along with other Indian gamers to discuss the future of gaming in India. She was the only female gamer present at the discussion. Speaking to the Prime Minister, she said she never imagined she would become India’s leading female gaming creator.
Although she had an interest in gaming from a young age, Payal revealed that she lacked basic facilities at home. She shared that she did not even own a personal mobile phone until she was in the 12th standard.
She told the Prime Minister that she learned the basics of gaming by watching her friends’ brothers play at cyber cafes. At the time, YouTube gaming was gaining popularity in India, and she decided to try her hand at it with the aim of encouraging more girls to choose gaming as a career.
According to News24Online, Payal earns around USD 10,000 per month. The outlet reports that her net worth is estimated to be between ₹1 crore and ₹9 crore. Apart from gaming, she also runs a retail brand named Thriftxpayal.
The controversy began after a video started circulating online with claims that Payal was the woman seen in it. However, her fans strongly rejected the claims, with several calling the video a deepfake.
Reports suggest that some people are allegedly paying up to ₹5,000 to obtain copies of the video.
Under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, sharing obscene or objectionable content online is a punishable offense. For a first-time conviction, a person can face up to three years in jail or a fine of ₹5 lakh. For repeat offenses, the punishment may extend to five years of imprisonment along with a fine of up to ₹10 lakh.
Under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, sharing obscene or objectionable content online is a punishable offense. For a first-time conviction, a person can face up to three years in jail or a fine of ₹5 lakh. For repeat offenses, the punishment may extend to five years of imprisonment along with a fine of up to ₹10 lakh.