A Kerala-based mimicry artist has alleged that he has been subjected to cyber abuse after a clipped video from one of his stage performances in Ireland went viral on social media. The controversy arose after some users accused him of showing disrespect to Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan during the performance.

Mimicry artist Mahesh Kunjumon said the incident stemmed from a recent show in Ireland, where he was performing an imitation of the Chief Minister's voice. According to Kunjumon, he referred to "V D Satheesan" over the microphone only to instruct the LED wall operator to display a file containing the Chief Minister's image before beginning the act.

Following the circulation of the video online, several social media users alleged that Kunjumon had intentionally addressed the Chief Minister without using an honorific such as "Chief Minister" or "Sir", accusing him of being disrespectful. The clip quickly attracted attention, prompting criticism and abusive messages directed at the performer.

In a Facebook post, Kunjumon rejected the allegations and said the viral clip had been taken out of context. He explained that he had merely mentioned the file name for technical purposes so the operator could identify the correct visual to display during the programme.

He maintained that there was no intention to insult or demean the Chief Minister. Kunjumon said only a short portion of the performance had been circulated on social media, creating what he described as a misleading impression of the incident. According to him, the edited clip omitted the surrounding context, leading many viewers to believe that he had deliberately referred to the Chief Minister in a disrespectful manner. The mimicry artist also alleged that he had faced cyber abuse following the circulation of the video.

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While he did not elaborate on the nature or extent of the online harassment, he appealed to people not to draw conclusions based on edited clips and urged them to understand the full context of the performance. Mimicry has long been a popular form of stage entertainment in Kerala, with performers often imitating the voices and mannerisms of political leaders, film personalities and public figures. Such performances frequently rely on humour and satire, although they occasionally spark controversy when excerpts are shared without context on social media.

The incident highlights how short, edited videos circulating online can quickly generate public reactions and controversy.  Kunjumon has maintained that his comments were purely functional during the stage performance and that the subsequent criticism resulted from a misunderstanding caused by the selective sharing of the video.

There has been no public response from the office of Chief Minister V D Satheesan regarding the controversy. Meanwhile, Kunjumon has reiterated that he intended no disrespect and expressed hope that the clarification would address the misconceptions surrounding the viral clip.

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