Bengaluru: Social media influencer Khyati Shree has triggered a heated online debate after sharing a Valentine’s Day video from Cubbon Park, where she was seen kissing her husband Shahbaz Ansar in front of a sign discouraging public displays of affection (PDA).
In the now-viral reel, Khyati is seen pointing to a board in the park that reads, “No unseemly behaviour, you will be penalised,” along with a silhouette of a couple kissing on a bench marked with a cross. Addressing the camera, she questions the interpretation of “unseemly behaviour,” arguing that teasing or troubling someone should be considered inappropriate, not consensual affection between partners.
“This photo is so wrong. Teasing or troubling someone should actually be termed unseemly behaviour, but loving and kissing one's wife or girlfriend here is misinterpreted as unseemly. This is so wrong,” she says in the clip.
Moments later, the couple kiss in front of the board, recording and posting the act online.
The video has drawn sharp reactions on social media. While some users supported her stance and called for a broader conversation on societal norms around public affection, others criticised the couple for deliberately breaking park rules.
One commenter wrote that “civic sense is needed,” while another argued that public spaces should maintain dignity and decorum, even if kissing is not illegal.
The “no kissing” sign has reportedly been in place at Cubbon Park for years as part of guidelines aimed at discouraging public displays of affection. However, the viral video has reignited debate over what constitutes indecent behaviour in public spaces. So far, there has been no official statement from park authorities regarding the incident.
