New Delhi, December 19, 2025 – Popular Indian gaming YouTuber and streamer Payal Dhare, better known as Payal Gaming, has found herself at the center of a major online controversy following the circulation of an alleged intimate video falsely linked to her. The clip, which began spreading rapidly on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and messaging apps earlier this week, has been widely denounced as a deepfake or manipulated content by fans and the influencer herself.
Payal Gaming, a 21-year-old content creator from Madhya Pradesh, rose to fame through her engaging gameplay streams of titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), PUBG, and GTA V. She is affiliated with S8UL Esports, one of India’s top gaming organizations, and holds the distinction of being the first Indian female gamer to surpass 3 million YouTube subscribers. In 2024, she won an international award at the Mobile Gaming Awards (MOBIES) and has previously met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the gaming industry’s future.
The controversy erupted around December 16-17, 2025, when unverified clips and screenshots started trending under hashtags and search terms like “Payal Gaming viral video” and “Payal Gaming Dubai MMS.” Some versions of the rumor tied the alleged video to Dubai, coinciding with Payal’s recent viral moment as a spectator during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final between India and Australia. This appears to have fueled clickbait titles designed to attract views and drive traffic to suspicious websites.
Fans quickly rallied in support, pointing out inconsistencies and labeling the content as AI-generated deepfake. Social media users emphasized the growing trend of fabricated videos targeting female creators for harassment and phishing scams. Similar incidents have affected other influencers recently, highlighting concerns over digital privacy and misinformation.
On December 17-18, Payal broke her silence with a detailed statement on Instagram, describing the situation as “deeply hurtful” and “dehumanizing.” She clarified: “The individual depicted in that video is not me, and it has no connection to my life, my choices, or my identity.” She urged the public and media to refrain from sharing or speculating on the material, adding that legal action is being taken against the misuse of her name and image.
Experts and reports from outlets like Hindustan Times, Economic Times, and News18 have corroborated that the circulating video is likely a deepfake or recycled unrelated footage, with no verified evidence linking it to Payal. Authorities have warned against sharing such content, noting potential violations under India’s IT Act for distributing obscene material.
As of now, the incident underscores the risks faced by public figures in the digital age, where AI tools can easily fabricate damaging content. Payal’s supporters continue to trend messages of solidarity, calling for greater accountability on platforms to combat deepfakes and online harassment.
Payal Gaming remains active in the gaming community, with millions of followers across YouTube (over 4.5 million subscribers) and Instagram. Her team has not commented further beyond the official statement.