Real-life catfishing scandal story behind Netflix's 'Sweet Bobby'

Netflix's latest documentary, ‘Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare,’ unveils the shocking true story of one of the internet’s most infamous catfishing cases, which deceived British radio host Kirat Assi for nearly a decade. The story revolves around Assi's online relationship with a man who claimed to be "Bobby Jandu" but turned out to be a fabricated persona, created and sustained through years of manipulation. According to the documentary, Assi’s initial Facebook connection with “Bobby” in 2010 seemed harmless; however, over time, the relationship intensified and grew more complex, with “Bobby” weaving elaborate narratives, including a false marriage, health issues, and even a fabricated witness protection story to keep Assi emotionally invested.

In a twist revealed by investigative efforts, Assi learned that her catfisher was not an unknown internet stalker but rather her own cousin, Simran Bhogal, who had assumed "Bobby's" identity, controlling 39 fake profiles to sustain the deception. “It was mind-boggling,” Assi shares in the documentary, as she uncovered Bhogal’s orchestrated manipulation that left her deeply traumatized and even forced her to take a work leave due to stress.

After contacting the police, Assi was informed that, under UK law, catfishing is not a criminal offense, leaving her without legal recourse. In 2020, she pursued a civil case against Bhogal, later settled out of court. The 82-minute documentary, based on a popular podcast of the same name, has received mixed reviews. The Guardian praised its direct approach, noting, "Though thankfully not stretched into multiple episodes… it could be longer." With a current IMDb rating of 6.3, ‘Sweet Bobby’ highlights the emotional toll of online deception and questions the vulnerability of digital trust.