By Ayesha Khan 
New Delhi, December 17: Since Monday night, one name has been doing the rounds across phones and social media timelines in India: Payal Gaming. It started quietly, in WhatsApp and Telegram groups, and then spilled out onto X, Instagram, and search trends. A short explicit video was being shared with claims that it showed Payal Dhare, the gaming creator millions know as Payal Gaming.
There is one important point that needs to be said upfront and clearly. There is no proof that the woman in the video is Payal Dhare. None. No confirmation from authorities, no statement from her side, no technical verification. And yet, the clip continues to circulate.
This is how online controversies now unfold. Fast, careless, and often cruel.
Who Payal Gaming Is, In Simple Terms
For people who do not follow gaming closely, Payal Gaming is not just another YouTuber. She is one of the most popular female gaming creators in India. Her real name is Payal Dhare, and she became famous through live streams and videos of games like PUBG Mobile and Battlegrounds Mobile India.
According to BollywoodShaadis, her audience runs into millions. Over time, she has become a familiar digital face, appearing at events, collaborating with brands, and representing a generation of young creators who turned online passion into a career.
That popularity also means she is constantly in the public eye. And on the internet, attention does not always come with kindness.
What Is This Viral Video Everyone Is Talking About
The controversy is about a short, intimate video clip that people are sharing while claiming it shows Payal Gaming. The clip did not come from any official source. It surfaced first in private groups and then spread publicly, usually with captions already naming her.
According to The Economic Times, once her name became attached to the video, it spread rapidly. Many people saw the clip only after it had already been labelled as a “leak”, even though no one had established whether it was real or fake.
This matters because once a name sticks, it is very hard to remove it.
Is The Video Real Or Is It Fake
Right now, the honest answer is simple. No one knows for sure.
Many fans believe the clip is a deepfake, meaning a video created or altered using artificial intelligence. According to Indulgexpress, concerns around deepfake misuse have grown because AI tools today can create very convincing fake videos using photos and clips already available online. At the same time, there has been no official technical test shared publicly. No lab report. No police confirmation. Nothing that proves the video is real or fake.
So what we are dealing with is uncertainty. And uncertainty is being treated as fact on social media.
How People Online Have Reacted
Payal Gaming’s supporters reacted quickly. Fans posted messages defending her and asked others not to forward the clip. Some reminded people that fake videos have been used in the past to target women creators.
According to Moneycontrol, hashtags supporting Payal Gaming began trending, with fellow creators also urging restraint. Their message was straightforward. Even if people are curious, sharing such content causes harm.
But curiosity often wins online. Especially in private groups, where people forward content without thinking twice.
Why Forwarding Such Videos Can Get You In Trouble
Many users believe that simply forwarding a video is harmless. That belief is wrong.
As explained by legal experts quoted in TV9 Bharatvarsh, sharing private or explicit content can lead to legal action under Indian law. It does not matter if the video later turns out to be fake. The act of sharing itself can be considered a violation of privacy. Adding a line like “not confirmed” or “just for information” does not protect anyone. Laws do not work that way.
Beyond the law, there is also a basic human cost. Once a video spreads, it cannot be taken back. Even if it is proven to be fake later, the damage to a person’s mental health and public image often remains.
No Word From Payal Gaming So Far
As of Tuesday afternoon, Payal Dhare has not spoken publicly about the video. According to Prabhasakshi, there has been no statement from her social media accounts or her management team. Some people see this silence as suspicious. Others understand it as a legal decision.
In many such cases, lawyers advise people to stay quiet while facts are checked. Speaking too soon can sometimes make things worse.
Silence, however, does not stop rumours.
Why This Is Not Just About One Creator
This incident is bigger than Payal Gaming alone. It reflects a pattern that keeps repeating online.
Women with visibility are often targeted using fake or unverified content. According to Indulgexpress, deepfake technology has made it easier to create such attacks, while laws and platform systems struggle to respond fast enough.
The video may be fake. It may not be. But the way it has been shared tells a familiar story. People rush to judge before checking facts. Platforms act late. And the person at the centre is left dealing with the fallout.
There is, however, a small change compared to earlier years. More people are now questioning viral content instead of immediately believing it. Awareness about deepfakes is growing, even if solutions are still weak.
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