Social media influencer Jasmin Jaffar has landed in controversy after posting a video of herself washing her feet in the sacred pond at Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, Kerala. The act, which devotees and temple authorities allege violates temple protocols, has sparked outrage across social media.
The controversy
The video, shared on Ms Jaffar’s Instagram account, quickly went viral and drew sharp criticism from devotees. The Guruvayur Devaswom has since filed a police complaint against her, accusing her of hurting religious sentiments and inciting unrest.
In response, temple authorities began a six-day purification ritual (punyaham) on August 26, repeating 18 poojas and 18 sheevelis conducted over the past six days.
Following the backlash, Ms Jaffar deleted the video and issued an apology.
“To those who love me and to everyone else, I understand that a video I made caused distress. It was never my intention to hurt anyone or create controversy. I sincerely apologise for the mistake that happened out of ignorance,” she wrote.
Who is Jasmin Jaffar?
- Age: 24
- From: Kerala
- Profession: Influencer, YouTuber, content creator
- Content: Lifestyle, beauty, fashion, and vlogs
- Followers: 1.6 million on YouTube, 1.5 million on Instagram
Jasmin rose to prominence during the COVID-19 lockdown through her videos and further gained fame as a contestant on Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6 (2024).
Her Bigg Boss stint was controversial, with her growing closeness to co-contestant Gabri Jose leading to tensions with her then-fiancé, Afzal Ameer. She later admitted feelings for Gabri, which ended her engagement. Mr Ameer publicly expressed heartbreak, saying the experience had taken a toll on his mental health.
The bigger picture
The incident has reignited discussions about influencers disregarding religious sensitivities in pursuit of content. While Jasmin Jaffar has apologised, the Guruvayur controversy has already left a mark on her public image.