Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor issues clarification regarding “fake sneakers” statement after facing backlash; says, “I already knew people who don’t know people would come after me”

Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor addresses controversy surrounding his fake sneakers remark.

September 12, 2023 - 2:33 PM IST

Bollywood actor Harsh Vardhan Kapoor found himself at the centre of a social media storm after sharing his thoughts on fake sneakers via his Instagram stories. The actor's statement, which urged his followers not to wear counterfeit footwear, ignited a heated debate and drew mixed reactions from the online community.

Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor issues clarification regarding “fake sneakers” statement after facing backlash; says, “I already knew people who don’t know people would come after me”

In an Instagram story posted on Monday, Harsh Vardhan Kapoor addressed the issue of fake sneakers, stating, “Don't know who needs to hear this but please stop wearing fake sneakers... if you have a low/moderate budget there's plenty of great options out there. Converse vans basic air force etc... if someone gets you a gift and they happen to be inauthentic you can pass them onto someone else that doesn't know what they are and would be happy to wear... but if you are buying you're own please do your own diligence... buy from trusted sellers...”

The actor followed up with another Instagram story, emphasizing the importance of dressing well and investing wisely in one's attire. He wrote, “Also really hope more men/boys look into how they dress and invest well in what they wear.. again doesn't have to be expensive tons and tons of cheap options out there.. but no point wearing a really expensive pair of shoes if you don't know how to put the rest of it together tbh... It's supposed to say something about you... your tastes and preferences... there's information everywhere and access don't be lazy... look into it and learn it can be a lot of fun... when we talk about the culture be it sneaker culture or street or whatever it's not about clout it's about your own individuality uniqueness and about how your outfit and choices speak for you and what they represent (Indian flag emoticon).”

Following the controversy, Harsh Varrdhan addressed his statement on X (Formerly known as Twitter), but it's not an apology; rather, he reinforced his position. He said, “When I put this out I already knew people who don’t know people would come after me etc but the truth is I’ve been doing this for along time and reps of hyped shoes are more expensive then say a pair of converse old skool vans or used air forces etc .”

When I put this out I already knew people who don’t know people would come after me etc but the truth is I’ve been doing this for along time and reps of hyped shoes are more expensive then say a pair of converse old skool vans or used air forces etc . https://t.co/ayapMiPRa3
— Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor (@HarshKapoor_) September 11, 2023

Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor entered the world of acting in 2016 through Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's film, Mirzya. However, the film did not fare well at the box office. He also had the opportunity to work alongside his father, Anil Kapoor, in the film Thar, which was released last year. Currently, Harsh has been devoting a significant amount of time to the Abhinav Bindra biopic, immersing himself in the project for quite a while now.

Also Read: Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor voices disappointment over team selection for WTC final; expresses support for Virat Kohli