Kangana Ranaut Faces Backlash Over ‘Gen Z’ Remarks, Draws Criticism from Celebrities and Political Leaders
BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut has come under intense criticism after making controversial remarks about Generation Z during the recent protests linked to the NEET paper leak issue. In a series of social media posts, Ranaut referred to sections of Gen Z as “Generation Gutter”, accusing them of using abusive language, lacking values and behaving irresponsibly. She also made sweeping comments about young women, triggering widespread outrage across political, entertainment and social media circles.
Ranaut’s remarks were made in response to videos from protests held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where students and youth groups had been demonstrating over alleged irregularities in public examinations. She described some protest videos as “puke-inducing” and questioned the upbringing of the participants, arguing that the behaviour displayed by certain protesters reflected a broader moral decline among today’s youth.
The comments sparked sharp reactions from political opponents and members of the entertainment industry. Actor Sonu Sood publicly criticised Ranaut’s remarks, calling them “shameful” and urging public figures to choose their words carefully. He said young people are the ones who support and shape the careers of artists and deserve respect rather than blanket condemnation.
The controversy also spilled into the political arena. The Mahila Congress staged protests condemning Ranaut’s remarks, accusing her of insulting an entire generation of young Indians. Opposition leaders argued that instead of addressing students’ concerns over examination irregularities, the BJP MP had resorted to personal attacks on the country’s youth.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been leading protests over the examination issue, also responded strongly. Party spokespersons accused Ranaut of trivialising legitimate student grievances and claimed that Gen Z had contributed more to demanding accountability than many elected representatives.
Despite the criticism, Ranaut has defended her comments, maintaining that they were directed at the conduct and language of certain protesters rather than the entire generation. Her supporters have similarly argued that her remarks targeted specific behaviour seen during the demonstrations, while critics contend that the language used amounted to an unfair generalisation of millions of young people.
The episode has reignited debate over the responsibility of public figures in political discourse and the role of social media in shaping public opinion. It has also highlighted broader tensions between political leaders and younger generations, particularly as students continue to demand greater transparency and accountability in India’s examination and recruitment systems.
