“Dude wanted privacy, but started a trending hashtag” – that’s how netizens reacted to music man AR Rahman’s divorce announcement from wife of 29 years, Saira, on November 19. Taking to social media to address this “fragile chapter” in his life, Rahman ended the note with #arrsairabreakup, which, netizens say was unwarranted, with some pointing out that his PR machinery lost the plot in using a hashtag to announce a breakup.

“We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for your kindness and for respecting our privacy as we walk through this fragile chapter,” Rahman posted along with the hashtag, #arrsairaabreakup

Netizens react to AR Rahman's #arrsairabreakup

In no time, there was a barrage of comments on social media trolling Rahman for requesting privacy, while also starting a hashtag that would, no doubt, trend. Comments ranged from “Indha Maari situation ku hashtag create panna admin Evan da Avan???” to “ARR issues statement on his separation. Why the hashtag, though?”, “Sir, did you really create the hashtag #arrsairabreakup?”, “Hashtag romba mukkiyam” and “Don't know who's handling Rahman's account, but the last thing to do when asking for privacy is to not create a page3-ish hashtag. What were they even thinking?”, among others.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, the fact that the couple’s lawyer Vandana Shah and associates decided that the joint statement on behalf of Rahman and Saira would be the best place to ‘advertise’ that an “award-winning divorce lawyer and author’ was handling their affairs. “Award winning by separating families”, “Can someone explain what is an award-winning divorce lawyer?”, “etheyyyyyyyy Award Winning Divorce Lawyer ah ! ithukulama award kudukaranga?”, were only some of the responses to the statement.

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