A Tamil YouTuber faces legal action for organizing a gender reveal party, which may have violated local regulations. The event, widely shared on social media, drew public and legal scrutiny. Authorities are investigating the specifics of the case. This incident highlights ongoing concerns over gender reveal celebrations.
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu health department issued a notice to popular Tamil YouTuber and food vlogger Irfan for revealing the gender of his unborn child in a video posted on his social media channel. This action has been taken as the gender reveal party, which organized by the soon-to-be father, considered a violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act.
The video in question, posted on May 18, shows Irfan and his wife undergoing a sex determination test at a hospital in Dubai on May 2. The video then documents their “gender reveal” party held in Chennai. Irfan mentions in the video that while sex determination tests are illegal in India, they are permitted in many other countries.
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Irfan’s YouTube channel, which has 4.28 million subscribers, featured vlogs about the gender reveal party and their Dubai trip. The gender reveal video alone attracted over 2 million views, while the Dubai trip vlog garnered approximately 1.1 million views.
The Tamil Nadu health department has taken legal action against Irfan for the violation of the PC-PNDT Act, which prohibits the disclosure of the sex of an unborn child.
In a recent video, Irfan openly expressed his strong preference for a daughter and shared his overwhelming joy upon learning the baby’s gender.
The health department directed the cybercrime authorities to take down the controversial video from YouTube. Additionally, the department sought clarification from Irfan and recommended that the authorities take appropriate legal action against him.
Revealing the gender of an unborn child is prohibited in India due to the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act. This law aims to prevent gender-based abortions and ensure the safety and rights of unborn children.
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The concept of a ‘gender reveal party’ is relatively new in India and involves a celebration where the gender of an upcoming baby is revealed to family, friends, and, in cases involving social media influencers like this YouTuber, to the public.
Typically, these events utilize creative, and sometimes elaborate, methods to announce whether the expected child is a boy or a girl. It’s a practice that has gained popularity through social media and has been widely celebrated in various parts of the world.
The legal system’s response to this case will likely set a precedent for how similar cases handled in the future, potentially influencing the cultural fabric of the nation and its burgeoning digital influencer economy.