In recent times, the intersection of celebrity influence and public health has sparked vigorous debates, highlighted by the feud between Samantha Ruth Prabhu, a prominent Indian actress, and Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, a respected figure in health and science. This confrontation has transcended a mere disagreement, touching on crucial issues such as medical advice, public health practices, and the power of social media. At the heart of this dispute is a controversial Instagram post by Prabhu on nebulization, which has since ignited a widespread medical debate, underscoring the impact celebrities can have on public health narratives and the importance of accurate health information dissemination.
Source: Hindustan Times
What Triggered the Feud?
The feud between Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, also known as The Liver Doc, was ignited by a controversial Instagram post made by the actress.
Samantha took to social media to recommend an alternative treatment for common viral infections. She suggested using a nebulizer with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and distilled water, claiming it to be an effective remedy.
Dr. Philips swiftly responded to Samantha’s post, expressing his concerns through a tweet. He criticized her advice, labeling her as “a health and science illiterate” for advising millions of her followers to inhale hydrogen peroxide. Dr. Philips contrasted Samantha’s recommendation with the scientific consensus, highlighting that reputable health organizations, such as The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, have warned against such practices due to potential health risks.
The feud between Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips sparked a social media frenzy, with celebrities, public figures, and followers weighing in on the controversy.
Reactions from Followers
Following a war of words between the two on social media, where celebrities like Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej and Indian badminton player Jwala Gutta shared their opinions, and her colleagues like Varun Dhawan, Rhea Chakraborty, and Manchu Lakshmi expressed their support for the actor, the Liver Doc dug up a post she shared in 2021 to criticize her. Sharing a screenshot of the phrase “We’re entertainers, Not fact-checkers” from her post, the Liver Doc noted on X (formerly Twitter), “We are like this only. Sigh. Anyway. ‘I’m not lost for I know where I am. However, where I am may be lost.’ — Winnie the Pooh.”
While three-time Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej, of Indian descent, supported the Liver Doc’s statement while condemning his choice of words, Gutta shot off a strongly worded message to Samantha, asking if she would take responsibility for any fatalities resulting from their alternative medical procedures.
Amidst the controversy, Dr. Philips wrote on social media on Saturday, “I have been fighting medical/health misinformation for the longest time and it just does not seem to end. I understand that the only way to fight medical misinformation is to consistently speak about it and make examples of people who mislead and misinform.”
“I understand and empathize with Samantha’s health condition and wish her the best. I apologize if she felt uneasy or bad about the way the message was conveyed. That was unintentional. My aim was her to leave behind medical misinformation peddling “doctors” who are using her vulnerability, and catering to her anecdotal experiences, for their gain,” he added.
Following this public disagreement, Indian media outlets quickly picked up the story. However, Dr. Philips later accused the media of misrepresenting his statements. In a follow-up tweet, he stated, “Indian media doing India media things. Misrepresentation and misinterpretation. Terrible times.” He argued that the media had cherry-picked parts of his statements, which led to a distorted portrayal of his critique and intentions.
In the latest developments, The Liver Doc issued an apology to Samantha Ruth Prabhu while simultaneously criticizing the doctors she had mentioned in her response.
Dr. Philips’ Apology Statement
The Liver Doc, in a lengthy post, acknowledged Samantha’s health condition and expressed empathy. He stated, “I understand and empathize with Samantha’s health condition, and I wish her the very best. I apologize if she felt uneasy or bad about the way the message was conveyed. That was unintentional.”
However, he maintained his stance against the doctors Samantha had referred to, Mitra Basu Chillar and Dr. Jockers. Highlighting his over 10 years of experience in the medical field, he labeled them as “frauds” and “businessmen,” questioning their practices and accusing them of exploiting Samantha’s vulnerability for personal gain.
Samantha’s Reflection on the Incident
In response, Samantha penned a lengthy post, expressing her disagreement with The Liver Doc’s choice of words while acknowledging her limited expertise on the topic. She wrote, “It would have been kind and compassionate of him had he not been so proactive with his words. Especially the bit where he suggests I should be thrown in prison. Nevermind. I suppose it goes with the territory of being a celebrity. I posted as someone who needs medical treatment and not as a celebrity.”
Samantha’s post highlighted the complexities of navigating health issues in the public eye and the need for respectful dialogue, even in the face of differing perspectives.
Read Also:
