Kunal Nayyar faces backlash over private charity revelation

Kunal Nayyar faced backlash after comments about quietly paying strangers’ medical bills resurfaced and sparked debate

Kunal Nayyar has found himself at the centre of an unexpected online backlash after past comments about his charitable giving resurfaced and spread widely across social media. The actor, best known for playing Raj Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory, was praised by some for his generosity but criticised by others who questioned why the remarks were ever made public.

The renewed discussion stems from an interview given late last year in which Nayyar spoke openly about how financial success changed his relationship with money. He explained that he and his wife support scholarships and animal charities, but also shared that he sometimes scrolls through GoFundMe pages at night and anonymously pays off medical bills for families in need. He described the habit as something deeply personal, saying that money felt like a responsibility rather than a burden.

Those comments resurfaced after an entertainment news account summarised them on X, where the post quickly gained millions of views. The reaction was sharply divided. Critics accused the actor of undermining the idea of anonymous giving by talking about it publicly, with some arguing that charity should never be discussed at all. Several viral replies mocked the notion of anonymity, pointing out that the story itself made the donations widely known.

At the same time, many users rushed to defend Nayyar. Supporters stressed that anonymity referred to the recipients not knowing who paid their bills, not to the public being unaware that such acts happen. Others argued that public conversations about generosity could encourage more people with disposable income to help those struggling with healthcare costs.

The debate also highlighted broader frustrations about medical debt and why crowdfunding is so often needed for basic care. For some, the backlash said less about Nayyar and more about discomfort with wealth, charity and visibility in the age of social media.

As the discussion continues online, Nayyar himself has not responded publicly. The resurfaced interview has instead taken on a life of its own, turning a story about private generosity into a wider argument about how kindness is perceived and policed in public spaces.