Kusha Kapila clarifies viral selfie with Samay Raina is…

In July 2026, influencer and actor Kusha Kapila addressed a viral social media image that falsely suggested a reconciliation with stand-up comedian Samay Raina. The image, which appeared to be a selfie of the two together, was identified by Kapila as an AI-altered fabrication used as part of a coordinated campaign to harass and minimize her reputation.

What happened

The incident involved the circulation of a digitally manipulated selfie showing Samay Raina standing next to a woman whose face had been replaced with Kapila’s image using AI synthesis. Kapila noted that the viral post was accompanied by a "scripted" narrative across multiple accounts, intended to suggest that she was attempting to associate with Raina following his recent career resurgence.

Kapila highlighted that this was part of a broader pattern of coordinated troll attacks, which she described as "incel internet" behavior aimed at disempowering women. She pointed out that the AI manipulation was used to manufacture a false reconciliation, contrasting it with a real-life public event where both were present but did not interact. Kapila explicitly stated that she is not friends with Raina, citing a 2024 fallout regarding "dehumanizing" jokes made about her during a roast show. She emphasized that the digital seeding of this manipulated content is an attempt to undermine her professional standing and personal boundaries, noting that she has been subjected to ongoing online harassment and public ridicule since the original roast occurred.