KUALA LUMPUR:26 Aug 2026 A Malaysia-based woman whose video went viral after she was mistakenly identified as Tamil Nadu minister S Keerthana has spoken out about the online abuse and threats she received following the incident.

Vinosha Ravi said her life was turned upside down after social media users wrongly claimed that she was the Tamil Nadu Industries Minister.

The controversy began when several social media users, allegedly supporters of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), shared a video of a woman wearing a short black dress and questioned whether she was Keerthana.

Keerthana later clarified that the woman in the video was not her and apologised to Vinosha for the controversy, saying the two only bore a passing resemblance.

The minister also criticised those who judged women based on their clothing, saying such attitudes reflected a regressive mindset.

“Even if it were me, why should it matter?” she said.

However, the clarification did little to stop the abuse directed at Vinosha, who said she was subjected to vulgar comments and online trolling over her choice of clothing.

“It pushed me into depression. Some of the comments were abusive and vulgar,” she said.

Vinosha said the video was not uploaded by her on any of her social media accounts.

Instead, she said, someone recorded her without her permission and posted the video online, falsely claiming that she was the Tamil Nadu minister.

She said the incident had left her afraid to go out, including to work.

“I fear going out, even to work,” she said.

Vinosha has since lodged a report with the Malaysian police after receiving threats and abusive messages online.

“I have approached the Malaysian police over the threats and abuse online. I am working with the police, who have taken it very seriously,” she said.

Despite the experience, Vinosha said she would not allow the incident to change the way she dressed or lived her life.

“I am not going to change myself or my dressing style because some people attacked me online,” she said.

She also urged social media users to think about the impact their posts could have on others, rather than seeking views and attention.

“People do not think before posting. They just want views. They do not think about the impact on the other person,” she said.

Vinosha said women should not be judged based on what they wear and that no one had the right to dictate how women should dress.

“No one has the right to lecture women. We know what and how to dress,” she said.