What should have been a heartwarming celebration for a Madhya Pradesh couple quickly turned into an unfortunate spectacle online. After being together for 11 years, Rishabh Rajput and Shonali Chouksey tied the knot, but their wedding photos, instead of simply capturing their joy, became the target of cruel colour-shaming once they went viral.
The couple’s pictures, widely shared across Instagram and X, show Rishabh dressed in a sherwani paired with a bright pink safa and shawl, while Shonali wore a stunning magenta lehenga. One of the most-shared photos shows them exchanging garlands of white and pink roses, smiling radiantly during the ceremony.
However, as soon as the images began circulating, some users fixated on the groom’s dark complexion. Sharing the photo on X, user Divya (@Divyadubeyy) wrote, "What is the core reason behind these types of marriages?" — a post that swiftly amassed over three million views. Trolls flooded the comments with distasteful remarks. One person wrote, "Behan kya majboori thi?" while others went so far as to say, "kehdo yeh AI hai."
Amid the negativity, many others stepped in to defend the couple and call out the hateful comments. A user wrote, "Kitne bekar soch hai yaar logo ki. Matlb kuch bhi comments kr rhe hain. Let the couple enjoy their moment." Another added, ''Go to West and you'll find endless black and white combination. Why is this thing made such a big deal in India ? We are just so obsessed with skin tone.'' Supportive messages and congratulations soon began pouring in as more people rallied behind the newlyweds.
Groom Hits Back At Trolls
Refusing to stay silent, Rishabh responded with a dignified and heartfelt message addressing the shaming. He revealed that he had waited years for the moment he could finally marry Shonali, sharing, "I waited for this very moment for almost 11 years," and that he struggled to hold back tears when seeing her as a bride.
Taking aim at those questioning the match, he wrote, "Sorry to disappoint you. I'm not a government employee but I work for my family and wish to give them a decent lifestyle. I do have a handsome income though, but she loved me when I had nothing and she stood there having my back since my college days in my thin and thick, blues and greys... so your opinion doesn't really matter."
He also thanked everyone who supported him and acknowledged the discrimination he has faced, saying, "I cannot deny the fact that I'm black and I have dealt with the racism my entire life."