‘Are you on Twitter?’ Megyn Kelly asks world’s 2nd-most followed leader Modi
NBC’s Megyn Kelly’s St. Petersburg chat with Indian PM Narendra Modi has drawn a barrage of online mockery after the reporter asked Modi if he was on Twitter. Modi’s 30 million online followers did their best to not let the gaffe slip.
The brief interaction between Kelly, Modi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place on Friday ahead of a plenary session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Aired by NBC as a teaser to the debut episode of Kelly’s new show, it did attract attention – but for all the wrong reasons, with the Twitterati blasting the journalist for failing to do her homework on the Indian leader.
Thank you Russia. This eventful visit witnessed several programmes and fruitful meetings. It will further boost India-Russia friendship. pic.twitter.com/XQQPplTyOm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 2, 2017
It all started after Modi, a long-time Twitter user with over 15,000 posts and 30.3 million followers, told Kelly that he saw a tweet that she posted with a photo of her standing with an umbrella in a St. Petersburg street. Kelly, seemingly in disbelief, replied: “Oh really, did you? Are you on Twitter?”
EXCLUSIVE: NBC News' @megynkelly joins Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi ahead of tomorrow's International Economic Forum in Russia. pic.twitter.com/L12ahtuTDO
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 1, 2017
The gaffe did not go unnoticed by Modi’s enormous Twitter fan-base, which mercilessly picked the host apart, calling her “terribly unprepared” and “unprofessional.”
Despite the hype @megynkelly comes across as terribly unprepared asking @narendramodi if he's on @Twitter Heard of basic research? @NBCNewshttps://t.co/BlVnzlgBH0
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) 2 июня 2017 г.
NBC News total follower 4.7M and Modi's follower base is 30M. Their Senior Anchor's attitude says it all..So unprofessional & disrespectful
— Arup Saha (@ArupSaha_) 2 июня 2017 г.
This is not good Kelly. No offense but pl do a little homework b4 you meet some big leaders. PM Modi has 30 millions followers on Twitter 😊
— Durgesh Dwivedi (@durgeshdwivedi) 2 июня 2017 г.
What a stupid question done by Megyn Kelly to our PM Modi Sir-have u tweeter account/are you on Twitter? hahahahaha
— G.P.SRIVASTAVA (@GPSRIVASTAVA11) 3 июня 2017 г.
Some were quick to point out that among world leaders, Modi trails only US President Donald Trump in number of followers, while the NBC anchor boasts “only” 2.32 million, which pales in comparison to Modi’s social media outreach.
Dear @megynkelly here is ur twitter profile vs @narendramodi sir profile,still u ask that r u on twitter. Wats d population f ur country btw pic.twitter.com/bFcanO6iLP
— Kumar Amritansh (@Banarasi_Hindu) June 2, 2017
Modi is also an active Facebook user. With over 40 million followers on Facebook, he recently topped the list of most popular leaders on the platform.
Study of Leaders on @Twitter@Pontifex tops list.
— #NDTVFrauds (@Chadddhaji) June 2, 2017
3 handles each from India & USA in top 10.
India's Minister @SushmaSwaraj only woman pic.twitter.com/SEskRHOHhv
#MegynKelly to #Modi :R u on Twitter?
— Dr Manisha Rajput (@DrManishaRajput) 2 июня 2017 г.
Megyn has 2.3M followers on Twitter.Modimore than 30 Million. Will she now ask him if He has internet
Others reacted in a more light-hearted way about the incident.
Modi : I saw your Tweet With umbrellaaa
— Raj Kumar (@chiya9) 3 июня 2017 г.
Megyn Kelly : How's this possible ? Are you on twitter? I see you don't follow me...
Modi : 😉 pic.twitter.com/DL5OUTjkQt
The misstep could, however, actually bring her rewards, some suggested.
India still reeling that Megyn Kelly did not know of PM Modi's twitter life. A billion more people now know Kelly's name as result of gaffe.
— Madhurika Sona Jain (@sonajain) 3 июня 2017 г.
Megyn Kelly asked Narendra Modi “are you on Twitter?" - sounds like asking "Mohammed Ali ever box in the Ring?".
— Thakur Baldev Singh (@HathwalaThakur) 3 июня 2017 г.
@Swamy39 Americans getting wiser..#POTUS Bush couldn't locate India on world map..#NBC anchor Kelly asks whether Modi exists on Twitter 🤔😉
— Bidnurmath Shivkumar (@bidnurmath) 3 июня 2017 г.
30 million followers.
— Fakalogy (@Fakalogic) 3 июня 2017 г.
Dear Megyn Kelly
Modi is not on twitter. Twitter is on Modi.
Got it!
