Tejasswi Prakash Reacts to Shresta Iyer's B***h Is a Compliment' Remark After Lock Upp 2

This exchange has led to a new debate on social media with fans divided over Shresta’s comment as well as Tejasswi’s reply.

Shresta Iyer’s statement goes viral
The controversy began when Shresta left Lock Upp 2. After being evicted, she spoke about her intense fight with fellow contestant Yogesh Rawat inside the house in an interview. During the fight, Yogesh is said to have abused her and called her a “nepo kid”.

Later, Shresta said about it, “I don’t take the word negatively. “I take it as a compliment,” she said, adding that dogs are loyal, loving and authentic, so she doesn’t take offence with the word.

The video went viral in no time. Some viewers hailed it as a bold way of taking back an insult, while others said it normalises abuse.

Tejasswi Prakash doesn’t agree with the statement
In a recent interview, Tejasswi was asked about Shresta’s statement, and she made her stance clear. “I don’t think taking an abusive word as a compliment is something I agree with,” she said. “How do you make it positive?

“Some words are weighted because of their use,” Tejasswi said. “To say they’re empowering doesn’t erase that history. She didn’t name-call Shresta or attack her personally, but the fact that she disagreed brought another angle into the conversation.

Tejasswi's reaction in the clip has since gone viral. Many fans clapped her for speaking out, whereas some said everyone has the right to handle insults in their own way.

Debate on social media is ongoing
There is a division on social media. One group supported Shresta, arguing her answer was confident and a way to disarm negativity. The other side agreed with Tejasswi that abusive language should not be repackaged as empowerment just because it was said on TV.

Who are Tejasswi Prakash and Shresta Iyer?
Popular TV actress Tejasswi Prakash rose to fame with Swaragini and then Naagin 6 and then went on to win Bigg Boss 15. She is one of the most followed faces of Indian television and is often vocal in her interviews.

Shresta Iyer was given her moment in the spotlight by Lock Upp 2. Her time on the show, and now this viral interview, has made her one of the most talked-about names this season.

The debate about the comment continues to rage, and fans are still fighting about where the line is between reclaiming a word and normalising it.