An Indian fashion blogger, Santoshi Shetty, who also runs the fashion network ‘The Style Edge,’ has been on the receiving end of backlash from the Internet after posting a video where she was allegedly offering therapy.
The death of Sushant Singh Rajput has opened a conversation on mental health in India, and while it would mean people reccomending therapy and actual therapists, it saw unqualified people offer therapy in an attempt to cash in on the process.
Shetty had allegedly offered to be ‘there’ for people for a nominal price of $20 USD and people were not happy.
Santoshi Shetty, a beauty influencer, in a video on instagram proposed that she'd be a "friend" to people out there having a tough time, at a "nominal" fee of 1500.
She said she'd be a "healer"— heloisme (@Amrita72809602) July 7, 2020
So Santoshi Shetty wants people to pay her so that she could give them "positive energy and vibes". And when being called out that she is not qualified to be a therapist, goes on to delete those comments, cuz positive vibezz onlay. pic.twitter.com/OVUu1Kt2rH
— Rahul Kahnwald (@bigdeekenergyy) July 6, 2020
Shetty has taken down the video after backlash, and apologized, saying that “for not clarifying that it was never meant as a substitute for Mental Health therapy sessions.” She further explained her intentions as “creating a community” where people could “grow together spiritually.”
She also apologized for trying to monetize it, saying “it sends a message I didn’t intend to send.”
The comments on the post, however, show that perhaps not everyone is won over by the apology.
Do you think social media influencers should be more discerning with what they post especially regarding mental health?
Let us know in the comments below!