Kusha Kapila hits back at viral meme mocking influencers at Cannes: 'Call me a creator, not a random celebrity'

Kusha Kapila has called out a viral meme that questioned the presence of content creators and influencers at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The reel, featuring a clip from the American TV show The Studio, used images of Kusha, YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, and actor Urvashi Rautela to suggest that some celebrities attend only for red carpet photos and leave without watching the films.Responding in the comments section, Kusha wrote, “You have taken a picture of mine from 2023, slapped on a meme that you are likely making about this year’s Cannes Film Festival.” She defended her past appearance, adding that she not only attended the screening for The Idol but also sat through two episodes and shared her honest opinion. “It was a terrible show,” she said.Referring to backlash she had already faced last year, Kusha noted that she had reflected on the criticism and taken accountability. “I have already been called out plenty that year, reflected, course-corrected and done my share of apologising and never ever been seen in a place where I don’t deserve a place.”Comment was later deleted but screenshots circulated onlineAlthough Kusha’s comment was later deleted from the post, it didn’t go unnoticed. Netizens had already taken screenshots and shared them widely on platforms like Reddit, sparking renewed discussion over the legitimacy of influencers at global events.Kusha also addressed the misconception that influencers are misusing opportunities, clarifying that celebrities have historically been sponsored by brands to walk the Cannes red carpet. “Title sponsors of the event can have their ambassadors walk on the carpets. It’s not a trend started by creators/influencers,” she explained.‘Don’t call me random — this is my identity’Taking issue with being called a “random celebrity,” Kusha said, “Calling someone’s entire existence random is not cool. I am a creator. Call me that, please. It’s a meme for you. For me, it’s my identity.”Earlier, Kusha had addressed similar criticism on her X (formerly Twitter) account, taking a stand against journalists questioning influencer visibility at global platforms like Cannes. She maintained that she will continue to embrace the opportunities that come her way and won’t allow her hard work to be invalidated.India marks strong presence at Cannes 2025While the debate around influencer attendance continues, this year’s Cannes Film Festival also saw significant Indian representation. Director Payal Kapadia is serving on the main competition jury. Neeraj Ghaywan’s film Homebound is set to premiere in the Un Certain Regard section, while Satyajit Ray’s classic Aranyer Din Ratri will be screened under Cannes Classics.