The internet is ablaze, and this time, it¡¯s not about cat videos or dance challenges. The recent appointment of Sriram Krishnan as an AI advisor to the White House has triggered a racism-fueled storm against Indians, especially on the subject of H1B visas. But amidst the chaos, one tweet stands out for its jaw-dropping audacity.
An American social media user, simply known as Rich, decided to capitalize on economic disparity¡ªat least hypothetically. His now-viral post on X proposed an idea that many are calling both racist and dystopian: buying up entire neighborhoods in India, leveraging the dollar¡¯s power over the rupee, and tripling rents.
¡°Since the whole world is just everybody's for the taking, I'm going to become an Indian slumlord and profit off their misery,¡± he wrote, managing to offend over a million viewers with his bold declaration.
Unsurprisingly, the post sparked a fiery backlash. Critics flooded his comments, highlighting both the legal and economic flaws in his proposal. Many users pointed out that India doesn¡¯t allow foreigners to buy property, debunking Rich¡¯s slumlord dream before it even began. Others seized the opportunity to clap back with biting humor. ¡°Fun fact¡ªcost of property in India is much higher than rental yields can support. If you did this, it would actually help Indian property owners,¡± one user retorted, mixing sarcasm with some hard truths.
But the underlying message wasn¡¯t lost in the chaos. The tweet, which racked up 1.6 million views, exposed the toxic mindset festering in some corners of the internet. Racism disguised as ¡°business ideas¡± left many aghast, with one user summing up the outrage: ¡°22k likes on a post calling for colonialism is CRAZY.¡±
Rich¡¯s tweet also reflects the broader hostility towards Indian immigrants in the United States, fueled by claims that they are ¡°stealing jobs.¡± As debates over immigration rage on, this viral moment serves as a stark reminder of how deep-seated prejudice can morph into brazen, unapologetic xenophobia.
For now, Rich may have gotten his 15 minutes of fame, but the internet isn¡¯t letting him off easy. Whether he wanted to spark conversation or just go viral, one thing is clear¡ªracism isn¡¯t a good look in any currency.