Actor Vikrant Massey apologised in February 2024 after an old social-media post from 2018 featuring an editorial cartoon of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita resurfaced and attracted criticism.

The original post was made while Massey was reacting to the Kathua rape and murder case, which had triggered nationwide outrage in 2018.

Six years later, screenshots of the post began circulating again on social media.

Massey subsequently deleted the tweet and issued a public apology, saying that he had never intended to hurt, malign or disrespect the Hindu community and that, looking back, he considered the use of the cartoon inappropriate.

The episode became another example of how old social-media posts can return to public attention years after they were originally published.

What Did Vikrant Massey Post in 2018?

In 2018, Massey shared an editorial cartoon featuring Lord Ram and Goddess Sita while commenting on public anger surrounding the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir.

The cartoon used the two religious figures as part of a political and social commentary about the crimes and their wider political context.

Massey accompanied the cartoon with criticism of what he described as “half-baked nationalists.”

The post was written during a period of intense national debate surrounding the Kathua case and other sexual-violence cases.

However, when the tweet resurfaced in 2024, many social-media users objected to the use of Hindu religious figures in the cartoon, regardless of the political context in which Massey had originally shared it.

Why Did the Tweet Become Controversial Again in 2024?

The tweet was approximately six years old when it again began circulating online.

By February 2024, Massey was receiving significant attention following the success of 12th Fail, which had earned widespread praise for both the film and his performance.

As the old tweet resurfaced, users criticized what they considered an inappropriate depiction of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita.

Massey responded publicly rather than defending the original post.

He deleted it and acknowledged that the cartoon had been in poor taste.

That distinction matters because the controversy was not about a new 2024 statement.

It concerned a 2018 tweet that returned to public attention in 2024.

What Did Vikrant Massey Say in His Apology?

On February 20, 2024, Massey posted a statement on X addressing the controversy.

He said his intention had never been to:

“hurt, malign or disrespect the Hindu community.”

He also acknowledged that, in hindsight, he regarded the tweet as distasteful and said he could have expressed his point without using the cartoon.

Massey apologised to people who had been hurt by the post and said he respected different faiths and beliefs.

He concluded by describing the tweet as one of the mistakes he had reflected on over time.

You can read contemporary coverage of the apology in the Indian Express report.

Massey Did Not Defend the Cartoon

One useful point that should be clearer than in the original Buzz Content Corner article is that Massey did not argue in 2024 that people had misunderstood the cartoon.

Instead, his apology accepted that the imagery itself was unnecessary.

He essentially separated two things:

• the social issue he had wanted to comment on in 2018; and
• the way he chose to communicate that message.

He said the same point could have been made without adding the cartoon.

That makes the apology more accurately described as an acknowledgment of poor judgment in presentation rather than a withdrawal of concern about the underlying crime he had originally been commenting on.

What Was the Kathua Case Context?

The 2018 tweet came during national outrage over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir.

The case became a major national issue and generated protests, political arguments and widespread media coverage.

Massey’s original post was one of many public reactions to the case.

That context is important because simply saying he “posted a cartoon insulting Hindu figures” removes the reason the post was originally made.

At the same time, explaining the context does not erase the later criticism concerning the use of religious imagery.

A balanced account should include both.

Social Media and Old Posts

The controversy also illustrates a practical reality of modern celebrity culture.

Social-media posts can remain searchable or preserved through screenshots long after they are deleted.

An opinion posted during a rapidly developing event can be rediscovered years later when:

• a public figure becomes more famous;
• political circumstances change;
• an old screenshot goes viral;
• users review historical posts.

That does not mean every old statement should be interpreted without its original context.

But it does mean public figures increasingly face scrutiny for years-old comments in addition to their current statements.

The more useful question is often not simply what was posted, but also:

• when was it posted?
• what event was being discussed?
• has the person changed or clarified their position?
• was an apology issued?
• what is independently verified?

What Happened to Vikrant Massey After the Controversy?

The February 2024 episode did not end Massey’s acting career.

Later that year he appeared in films including Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, Sector 36 and The Sabarmati Report.

In December 2024, another social-media post created confusion when many readers interpreted it as an announcement that he was retiring from acting.

Massey later clarified that he was not retiring permanently and instead wanted to take a break because he felt burned out and wanted more time for his health and family.

National Film Award for 12th Fail

A major career milestone followed in 2025.

At the 71st National Film Awards, Vikrant Massey was jointly named Best Actor in a Leading Role for 12th Fail, sharing the honour with Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan.

The government’s official award announcement also named 12th Fail the Best Feature Film.

You can see the official announcement from the Press Information Bureau.

President Droupadi Murmu later presented the award at the National Film Awards ceremony in September 2025.

That provides useful current context without turning this article into a general biography of the actor.

Timeline of the Controversy

Was the Tweet Deleted?

Yes.

The original 2018 tweet was deleted before or around the time Massey issued his public apology in February 2024. Contemporary reports noted that the old post was no longer available on his account.

Did Vikrant Massey Say He Intended to Insult Hinduism?

No.

His 2024 statement explicitly said that he had not intended to hurt or disrespect the Hindu community.

He nevertheless acknowledged that the way he had expressed his opinion was inappropriate and apologised to those who were offended.

That distinction should be preserved in any accurate report.

Was the Cartoon Created by Vikrant Massey?

Contemporary reporting described it as an editorial cartoon that Massey shared, rather than artwork created by him personally. Massey himself referred to it as a cartoon that had been published in a newspaper.

That is another small but important factual distinction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Vikrant Massey apologise?

He apologised after a 2018 tweet featuring an editorial cartoon of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita resurfaced in 2024 and attracted criticism for potentially hurting Hindu religious sentiments.

When did Vikrant Massey post the original tweet?

The original tweet was posted in 2018, during public outrage surrounding the Kathua rape and murder case.

When did he apologise?

Massey issued his apology on February 20, 2024. News reports about it appeared on February 21.

Did Vikrant Massey delete the tweet?

Yes. The original post was deleted.

What did he say in the apology?

He said he never intended to hurt or disrespect the Hindu community, acknowledged the post’s distasteful nature and said he could have expressed the same message without using the cartoon.

Did Vikrant Massey retire from acting?

No. In December 2024 he clarified that reports of his retirement were based on a misinterpretation of his post. He said he wanted a temporary break rather than permanently leaving acting.

Did Vikrant Massey win a National Film Award?

Yes. In 2025 he shared the Best Actor in a Leading Role National Film Award with Shah Rukh Khan. Massey received the award for 12th Fail.

Final Takeaway

The Vikrant Massey apology controversy began with a social-media post written in 2018 and returned to public attention six years later.

Massey had shared an editorial cartoon featuring Lord Ram and Goddess Sita while expressing anger over the Kathua rape and murder case.

When the post resurfaced in February 2024, it attracted criticism from users who considered the religious imagery offensive.

Massey did not defend the use of the cartoon.

Instead, he deleted the tweet, acknowledged that it was distasteful and apologised to people who had been hurt by it. He also clarified that disrespecting the Hindu community had never been his intention.

The most accurate way to report the story today is therefore not to frame it as an ongoing religious controversy.

It was a 2018 social-media post, a 2024 backlash and a subsequent public apology.

Massey’s career continued afterward, and in 2025 he received one of Indian cinema’s highest honours when he was named National Film Award Best Actor for 12th Fail.

For more entertainment controversies, visit the Buzz Content Corner Controversy section.

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