Pearle Maaney loses over 3 lakh Instagram followers after student protest post; deleted Story fuels fresh controversy

Actor, television host, and social media influencer Pearle Maaney has reportedly witnessed a significant decline in her online following after her comments on the recent student protests sparked widespread criticism across social media platforms.

According to the latest figures, Pearle Maaney has lost more than 3 lakh Instagram followers within just two days. Her follower count reportedly dropped from around 5.7 million on July 24 to approximately 5.4 million, while reports also indicate a decline in followers across her YouTube and Facebook accounts.

What triggered the controversy?

The controversy began after Pearle Maaney shared a lengthy post on Instagram, reacting to the nationwide student protests. In her message, she described the situation as “painful” and “heartbreaking” while expressing support for students demanding a fair and transparent education system.

However, she also appealed to protesters to prioritise their personal safety.”Please don’t get hurt. Please stay safe. If your life is in danger, go back home. No cause is worth losing a life over,” she wrote.

Pearle further expressed hope that the movement’s original purpose would remain the focus even as the protests continued to expand.

Despite her message of concern, many social media users criticised the post, accusing the actor of taking an overly neutral position and downplaying the concerns raised by students. As criticism intensified, Pearle disabled comments on the post while leaving the caption:”The comments section is a reflection of my Freedom of Speech.”

Deleted Instagram Story added fuel to the row

The controversy escalated after Pearle Maaney shared an Instagram Story aimed at a “failed filmmaker” who had criticised her earlier statement.

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Without naming anyone directly, she alleged that the filmmaker had exaggerated her remarks by turning her “four-page post” into a “10-page script” with “chilli powder and ajinomoto.” She also addressed comments involving her two daughters before concluding the post with a reference to the Indian national flag, writing:”My favourite colour is saffron! I think I love it the most on our Indian flag.”

Although the Story was later deleted, screenshots circulated widely on social media, extending the controversy.

Joe Malayil identifies filmmaker as Sibi Malayil

The situation took another turn when Joe Malayil, son of veteran Malayalam filmmaker Sibi Malayil, publicly stated that the unnamed filmmaker mentioned by Pearle was his father.

Responding through Instagram Stories, Joe criticised Pearle for making the disagreement personal and posted a strongly worded response. He had earlier also criticised her advice urging students to return home, calling it “peak stupidity” in a separate social media post.

The public exchange quickly gained traction online, drawing reactions from both supporters and critics of the actor.

Follower count continues to decline

Even after deleting the controversial Story, criticism surrounding Pearle Maaney has continued online. Users have reportedly flooded the comment sections of her older posts, while many pointed to the drop in her follower count as evidence of the public reaction to the controversy.

As of now, the actor has not issued any fresh statement or clarification following the deletion of her Instagram Story.

The episode has once again highlighted how public statements by celebrities on sensitive social issues can quickly become the centre of intense online debate, often influencing both public perception and social media engagement.