YouTuber Payal Gaming Breaks Silence Amid Viral Video Controversy, Says ‘It’s Not Me’

Social media influencer Payal Dhare, popularly known as Payal Gaming, on Wednesday issued a detailed statement denying any connection to a viral video circulating online that has been falsely linked to her.

Calling the episode “distressing” and deeply personal, Payal said the individual seen in the video is not her and that the clip has no connection to her life, identity or choices.

“Over the past few days, content has been circulated online that falsely associates my name and image with a video currently being shared on digital platforms,” she said in a statement. “I want to state this clearly and without ambiguity: the individual depicted in that video is not me, and it has no connection to my life, my choices, or my identity.”

In a social media post, Payal urged the public and media to refrain from sharing, reproducing or speculating about the video in any form. She said appropriate legal steps were being taken to address the misuse of her name and likeness and to ensure accountability under the law.

Payal Dhare is a well-known YouTube gaming creator with around 4.5 million subscribers. She is best known for her gameplay videos and live streams. Hailing from Chhindwara near Indore in Madhya Pradesh, she rose to prominence despite limited access to technology in her early years.

Last year, Payal was among a group of Indian gamers who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the future of gaming in India. She was the only female gamer at the meeting. “I had never imagined that I would become India’s leading female creator,” she told the prime minister at the time.

Payal has previously said she lacked basic facilities growing up and did not own a personal mobile phone even while studying in Class 12. She learned about gaming through friends and their visits to cyber cafes, later deciding to try YouTube gaming to encourage more women to see gaming as a viable career option.

According to media reports, Payal earns about $10,000 a month, with her net worth estimated between ₹1 crore and ₹9 crore. Apart from her gaming career, she also runs a retail venture called Thriftxpayal.

The controversy emerged after a video began circulating online with claims that Payal was the woman featured in it. Many of her fans have rejected the claims, with some suggesting the clip may be a deepfake. Reports have also claimed that copies of the video are being sold for as much as ₹5,000.

Under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, sharing obscene or objectionable content online is a punishable offence. A first conviction can attract a fine of up to ₹5 lakh or imprisonment of up to three years, while repeat offences may result in jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to ₹10 lakh.