“He liked my photo…” – Virat Kohli linked influencer LizLaz breaks silence on viral Instagram controversy

During the ongoing IPL 2026 season, Virat Kohli found himself trending for an unexpected reason after fans noticed that he had liked a photo posted by German influencer LizLaz. The incident reportedly took place around April 16, 2026, when eagle-eyed users spotted the interaction on an older post. Within minutes, screenshots went viral across social media platforms, turning a simple action into a major talking point. The situation gained further attention when the like was later removed, adding to the curiosity and online discussions.

As the buzz grew, LizLaz reacted to the viral moment and shared her honest thoughts. She revealed that she had no idea about the interaction initially and only found out after seeing media reports and messages. “It was crazy because I woke up and then I was all over the news,” she said. Explaining further, she added, “I don’t even know when he liked the picture, I learnt through the news. So many people sent me messages.” Speaking about the moment when the like disappeared, she said, “I felt a bit sorry for him actually… I don’t even know how it became such a big story. That was probably not his intention.” Despite the unexpected attention, she expressed gratitude and appreciation for the support.

Who is LizLaz? Influencer at centre of Virat Kohli viral moment

LizLaz, whose real name is Jennifer, is a German-South African influencer, singer, and travel creator who has built a strong online presence. She has spent significant time in India, visiting cities like Bengaluru, Goa, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mysore, and Coorg, which helped her connect with Indian audiences.

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Interestingly, she revealed that her interest in cricket began during her travels in India, particularly during IPL 2025. “I started watching with my Bangalorean friends… it was contagious,” she said. She also shared her admiration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kohli, adding, “If you support RCB, Virat Kohli is the most exciting player to watch. He’s just so good.” She admitted that she was happy about the interaction, saying, “I was so happy that he liked the picture,” while also maintaining that the situation escalated unexpectedly.

The timing of the incident also coincided with Kohli’s IPL commitments, including Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match on April 18, 2026 against Delhi Capitals, further amplifying the buzz around him.

Despite the off-field noise, Kohli continues to remain focused on his performances in IPL 2026. However, this incident once again highlights how even the smallest actions of global sports icons can quickly turn into viral moments in the digital age.

Fans react as controversy trends across social media

The incident quickly turned into a trending topic, with fans flooding social media with memes, jokes, and debates. Many users compared it to Kohli’s previous controversy involving Avneet Kaur in 2025, where he had clarified that an accidental like was caused by an algorithm glitch while clearing his feed.

The latest episode followed a similar pattern, with divided reactions online. While some fans treated it as a light-hearted and harmless moment, others questioned how such minor social media activity could gain massive attention within hours.