Doja Cat sparks backlash after calling viral fan moment uncomfortable

Doja Cat has spoken out about an uncomfortable moment with TikTok influencer Pablo Tomayo that recently went viral.

The interaction took place outside an event, where Tomayo handed Doja the shirt off his back — part of his custom clothing line — followed by a hug and friendly kiss that was widely praised on social media.

However, a week later, Doja Cat posted a now-deleted message on X (formerly Twitter), expressing that she did not enjoy the encounter. “Don’t touch me and manhandle me when you don’t even know me,” she wrote, adding that although she smiled in the video, it didn’t mean she was okay with the contact. She later stated she was drunk at the time and threw the shirt away.

The influencer, who has over 400,000 TikTok followers, responded in a video saying he had no intention of making her uncomfortable. “I would never film someone without their permission,” he said, explaining that the video was filmed after she agreed to it. “I’m sorry if I made her feel that way.”

While some fans sympathized with Doja, others questioned her response, sparking a wave of online backlash. Critics accused her of overreacting, while supporters highlighted the importance of setting boundaries — especially for public figures.

The debate raises ongoing concerns about parasocial relationships, consent, and how women — particularly Black women — are often criticized for asserting their comfort. As discourse continues, many argue the real issue lies in how society handles boundaries and celebrity interactions in a digital age.