Actor Akanksha Chamola has come under heavy criticism online after reiterating her claim that "sexuality is a phase" following her exit from Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa. Several social media users criticised the remark, with some saying she "needs sex education."
The second season of the reality show concluded on Wednesday, with influencer Shreya Kalra emerging as the winner.
Akanksha, who was evicted before the finale, spoke about several aspects of her personal life after leaving the show, including her separation from Gaurav Khanna and her sexuality. She drew fresh backlash after repeating her views on sexuality during a conversation following her elimination.
Speaking to Tejasswi after exiting the show, Akanksha stood by her earlier remarks despite Tejasswi attempting to explain the subject. She said, "Yeah, it is. There are certain things, emotionally, physically, mentally, that get you to that point where you are like, you know what, I just don’t want to have this thing with anyone."
"But that doesn’t mean you are not seeking an emotional connection with a person. And now I know I am physically incapable of a relation in that sense. And that’s why I say," she added.
As clips of the conversation spread across X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms, many users criticised her comments.
One user wrote, "No ma'am, sexuality is not a phase. She should think before saying something like this on national TV. An entire community has been fighting against the misconception that sexuality is something that passes with time or can be changed. She should refrain from making such statements (sic)."
Another user commented, "Sorry Miss Chamola! Sexuality is not a 'phase'. It is an orientation, and there is a community fighting for recognition and equal rights. This is not a fashion statement. You are not only being hypocritical but also arrogant (sic)."
A third post read, "For years, the LGBTQ+ community has worked to explain that sexuality is not a choice, and now this outspoken celebrity is saying the opposite. Akanksha Chamola needs both media training and sex education. What a disappointment (sic)."
Another user wrote, "The LGBTQ community has spent years educating people about sexuality, and here Miss Chamola is making statements that don't make sense because she herself seems confused. Glad Teja corrected her by saying, 'No, it's not' (sic)."
However, not everyone agreed with the criticism. One user argued that Akanksha had failed to express herself clearly rather than intentionally spreading misinformation.
"Unpopular opinion, but a person can be bisexual and asexual—they mean different things on the spectrum. Sexuality is not a phase, but it can be fluid. Chamola just needs to articulate her thoughts better (sic)," the user wrote.
During the show, Akanksha revealed that she and Gaurav Khanna had decided to separate before she entered Lock Upp, with only their families aware of the development at the time.
Following an argument inside the house, Shreya Kalra disclosed Akanksha's bisexuality, which had been one of her secrets on the show. Akanksha later broke down, saying she had been "bisexual before marriage" to Gaurav, a statement that left many viewers puzzled.
Later in the season, she described sexuality as "a phase" and said she now identified as asexual while dealing with her separation.
