YouTuber and content creator Abhishek Malhan, popularly known as Fukra Insaan, has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his viral promotional reel on E20 (20% ethanol-blended) fuel. After facing widespread criticism on social media, Malhan released a video clarifying that the reel currently circulating online was created around 1.5 years ago during the launch campaign for E20 fuel and had already been deleted long before the recent controversy erupted.
The backlash intensified after fellow YouTuber Sourav Joshi initially claimed that E20 fuel had negatively affected his car’s mileage and performance. Although Joshi later clarified that the issue was actually caused by an engine fault and not the fuel itself, old promotional clips featuring Abhishek Malhan resurfaced online, making him the target of criticism as debates over ethanol-blended fuel gained momentum.
In his Instagram video, Malhan explained that the discussion soon evolved into a larger political and social debate, with people searching for someone to blame for the controversy. He said his old promotional content was taken out of context, leading to a wave of hate from people who were unaware that the video had been created over a year ago. According to the YouTuber, he became an easy target despite the promotional campaign being based on the information available at the time.
Malhan further revealed that the campaign was undertaken through his talent agency, CollabX, on behalf of Bharat Petroleum during the launch of E20 fuel. He emphasized that he was not the only influencer involved in promoting ethanol-blended fuel, adding that several other creators had participated in similar campaigns. However, he chose not to name them, saying he did not want others to face the same online backlash.
Defending influencers who promote products through brand collaborations, Malhan said creators endorse campaigns based on the facts and information shared with them at the time. He added that if a product later becomes controversial or concerns emerge, responsible influencers stop promoting it. He reiterated that his E20 reel had already been taken down once the issue became contentious.
Concluding his statement, Malhan appealed to social media users not to drag individuals into unrelated disputes. He urged people to understand the timeline of the viral video before directing criticism, stating that the hate being directed at him over an old and deleted promotional reel was both unnecessary and unfair.