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Turkish actress Hande Erçel recently found herself at the centre of online debate after a short clip from an international awards ceremony went viral on social media. The video showed Erçel seated in the audience, holding her phone and recording the stage as Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan presented an award alongside Egyptian actress Amina Khalil. Since Amina Khalil is a close friend of Erçel, the moment initially appeared casual, but online speculation quickly took over.
Many social media users, especially from India, assumed that the Turkish star was filming Shah Rukh Khan out of admiration. Several fan pages described the clip as a sweet “fangirl” moment, praising Erçel for appreciating the actor’s global popularity. The video spread rapidly across platforms, gaining traction within hours and drawing strong reactions from Shah Rukh Khan’s fan base.
However, doubts about the authenticity of the screenshot emerged almost immediately. Several users pointed out inconsistencies in the post and questioned whether the image had been edited or taken out of context. Despite this, the damage had already been done, with the screenshot continuing to circulate widely.
Following her clarification, several users shared side-by-side comparisons of real and fake posts to highlight how misinformation had spread. Many acknowledged that the confusion stemmed from assumptions made after the original video went viral, rather than from anything Erçel herself had said or posted.
After Erçel spoke out, the tone online shifted noticeably. Several Shah Rukh Khan fans apologised to the actress for the backlash she faced and thanked her for clearing the air. Many noted that false narratives often spread quickly during viral moments and appreciated her decision to call out misinformation directly. Messages of support also poured in from her own fans, who praised her calm handling of the situation.
Many social media users, especially from India, assumed that the Turkish star was filming Shah Rukh Khan out of admiration. Several fan pages described the clip as a sweet “fangirl” moment, praising Erçel for appreciating the actor’s global popularity. The video spread rapidly across platforms, gaining traction within hours and drawing strong reactions from Shah Rukh Khan’s fan base.
Viral screenshot fuels backlash
The situation escalated when a screenshot, claimed to be from Hande Erçel’s Instagram story, began circulating online. The image suggested that she had dismissed the attention by stating that she was only filming her friend and questioned Shah Rukh Khan’s identity in a dismissive way. This alleged caption angered many fans and triggered criticism, trolling, and heated discussions across social media platforms.However, doubts about the authenticity of the screenshot emerged almost immediately. Several users pointed out inconsistencies in the post and questioned whether the image had been edited or taken out of context. Despite this, the damage had already been done, with the screenshot continuing to circulate widely.
Hande Erçel responds and clarifies
Amid the growing controversy, Hande Erçel directly addressed the viral screenshot on X (formerly Twitter). She firmly stated that the post being shared online was fake, making it clear that she never referred to Shah Rukh Khan in the manner claimed. Her brief but direct response put an end to speculation and confirmed that the screenshot was morphed.Following her clarification, several users shared side-by-side comparisons of real and fake posts to highlight how misinformation had spread. Many acknowledged that the confusion stemmed from assumptions made after the original video went viral, rather than from anything Erçel herself had said or posted.
After Erçel spoke out, the tone online shifted noticeably. Several Shah Rukh Khan fans apologised to the actress for the backlash she faced and thanked her for clearing the air. Many noted that false narratives often spread quickly during viral moments and appreciated her decision to call out misinformation directly. Messages of support also poured in from her own fans, who praised her calm handling of the situation.
