Samantha Ruth Prabhu has faced backlash for recommending hydrogen peroxide nebulization to treat viral infections. Following the criticism, she issued a clarification explaining her perspective. However, Grammy Award-winning music composer Ricky Kej believes it was irresponsible of Samantha to advocate a medical procedure.
Ricky Kej on Samantha Ruth Prabhu
After a doctor on social media criticized Samantha as a "health and science illiterate" for promoting alternative health treatments, the actor called him rude. Ricky had supported the doctor in Samantha’s comment section.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Ricky expressed his shock and disappointment at seeing Samantha promote dangerous medical practices. He stated, “A medical procedure was being advocated by a celebrity with tremendous influence. It was going into dangerous territory because this particular medical treatment could also be life-threatening. It was quite irresponsible (on her part), simply because she is talking about something that is life-threatening.”
Ricky continued, “There are a lot of people who are constantly looking for alternative medicine sources because they think traditional medicine sources do not work. They can be very impressionable, especially when a celebrity endorses something. That’s why it’s very important for regulations to be executed very strongly so that celebrities absolutely refrain from endorsing any kind of medical procedure.”
Ricky on Samantha defending herself
Ricky was perplexed by Samantha defending her initial post. Samantha explained, “I am not naive enough to go about strongly advocating a treatment. I merely suggested with good intention because of all that I have faced and learnt in the last couple of years.”
Ricky noted, “When you double down on it, it makes it worse. For me, advocating the practice was bad, but it wasn’t as bad as the fact that she was defending it. She was trying to slyly put down the doctor who called her out.”
He added, “It didn’t make sense to me… She is the one with influence, and she is the one advocating it. So, she is the one who needs to be called out. And she is the same person who advocates sugary drinks and processed food for dogs… Endorsing those things is fine, but don’t call yourself a person who is trying to advocate for health.”
Ricky Kej emphasises on the need for thoughtful endorsement
Ricky emphasized the need for stricter implementation of rules and regulations to prevent such endorsements. “The regulations are already in place where they lay down what a person can’t endorse. Now, it needs to be executed very strongly. That is how people will avoid casually doling out medical advice, which could be harmful for a patient,” he concluded.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu's post
Samantha, who has been open about her battle with Myositis, recently shared about the benefits of hydrogen peroxide nebulization. Dr. Abby Philips, known as The Liver Doc on social media, criticized the actor for sharing misinformation with her fans. Samantha had posted a picture of herself using a nebulizer, suggesting it as an alternative approach to medication for common viral infections. The Liver Doc responded by calling her a “health and science illiterate.”
Samantha later clarified that her post was not a paid endorsement and that she would be more careful in the future. She wrote, “It would have been kind and compassionate of him had he not been so provocative with his words, especially the bit where he suggests that I should be thrown in prison. Never mind. I suppose it goes with the territory of being a celebrity.”