'They'll wet themselves': Outrage after Haryana influencer Nakul Dhull suggests men to follow women at night

Several users tagged Haryana Police and the National Commission of Women in their posts, calling for action to be taken.

A social media video featuring Haryana-based influencer Nakul Dhull has triggered widespread criticism after he advised a young male follower to frighten women in public as a way to overcome his own insecurities.

Dhull, who has around one million followers on Instagram, was responding to a message from a boy who said he felt insecure about his appearance and was afraid to approach women. Rather than offering guidance focused on personal development or social confidence, Dhull described a scenario in which the boy could deliberately scare a woman late at night.

In the clip, which has circulated widely online, Dhull says: “Arre ladkiyon se mat dara kar, 11 baje inko follow karo, chedna mat bas follow karo, peeche chalo, phir tez tez inke peeche bhaago aur inko bhaagte bhaagte overtake karlo, inka m**t ussi mein nikal jata hai.”

The translation of his remarks is: “There’s no need to fear them. Follow them at 11:00 PM. Don’t touch them, just follow. Walk behind them, then run fast and overtake them. They’ll wet themselves in fear.”

In the same video, fellow influencer Lakshay Chaudhary can be seen seated beside Dhull while the comments are made.

Dhull appeared to frame the described behaviour as a prank and suggested that provoking fear in a woman walking alone at night could serve as a confidence boost for the boy who had written to him. Critics have argued that the remarks reduce a serious issue to a source of amusement and present intimidation as an acceptable response to personal insecurity.

The video has drawn strong reactions on social media. Many users accused Dhull of making light of conduct that mirrors the real-life experiences of women who face harassment and threats in public spaces.

One user wrote: “@NCWIndia do you’ll even care about women in this country? Why are monsters like this not arrested yet? @narendramodi @AmitShah are women safe in this country with such monsters roaming free and coaching young boys to scare girls?”

Another commented: “These are exactly the kind of men who make this world a living hell for women. I genuinely hope his family, especially the women in his life see this and realize what kind of person he is. Shame on him. Disgusting.”

A third said: “They are illiterates from Haryana, they lack education primarily, we can't judge them, we can only have sympathy towards them.”

Another social media user added: “It's scary how some people call themselves 'influencers' and still promote disrespect towards women. Telling men to scare women on the streets? That's not influence; that's toxicity. Women are not weak. Women are not meant to be afraid. If anything, men should learn to respect, not intimidate. Is this how you influence the youth? Do better.”

Some commenters defended the video by suggesting it may have been intended as sarcasm or dark humour. However, many others rejected that interpretation, arguing that the subject matter makes such framing inappropriate, particularly in a country where concerns about women’s safety remain acute.

Several users tagged Haryana Police and the National Commission of Women in their posts, calling for action to be taken. As of now, Dhull has not issued any public clarification or apology regarding the remarks.

The controversy has prompted renewed discussion about the responsibilities of online personalities, particularly those with large and predominantly young audiences. Critics contend that when influencers present intimidating behaviour as entertainment, it risks reinforcing attitudes that trivialise women’s fears in public spaces.

For many women, the situation described in the video reflects everyday anxieties: walking quickly through poorly lit areas, remaining alert to footsteps behind them, sharing live locations with friends, or avoiding isolated streets altogether. Campaigners say turning such experiences into online content undermines the seriousness of the issue.

The incident has intensified scrutiny of how creators approach sensitive subjects and whether existing platform standards are sufficient to address content that appears to endorse harassment, even under the guise of humour.