Humans of NY creator slams Humans of Bombay for making money by selling stories. FYI, HOB made Rs 6.8 crore in 2022
The clash between Humans of Bombay (HoB) and Humans of New York (HONY) has taken the social media world by storm, with founder Brandon Stanton issuing a strong response to the ongoing controversy. This dispute has not only captivated the attention of netizens but has also ignited a fierce debate about the fine line between art, storytelling, and commercialisation in the digital age.
What
Stanton, the visionary behind Humans of New York, chose to address the situation through an official statement shared on his Instagram account. However, before issuing this statement, he took to social media to voice his concerns directly.
In a post on Instagram, Stanton personally called out Karishma Mehta's HoB.
In his statement, Stanton dropped a bombshell revelation:
- he hasn't received any monetary compensation for the stories featured on Humans of New York for the past thirteen years, despite receiving numerous lucrative offers.
- His income has been derived from other sources, including books featuring his work, paid speeches, and Patreon contributions.
Humans of Bombay, meanwhile...
...earned Rs 6.78 crore in revenue and Rs 3.2 crore in profits in 2022, according to the Director's Report, shared on X by a user, Drunk Journalist.
Humans of Bombay made 6.78 crores of revenue last year's aand 3.2 crores of Profits.
— Drunk Journalist (@drunkJournalist) September 24, 2023
by sharing one story at a time. pic.twitter.com/Bmb0Yid2Ua
Humans of Bombay also had a rate card determining the cost per stories and posts that were featured on their pages.
Exploitation of the 'Humans of' concept
Stanton, however, was quick to clarify that his concern lies not with others adopting the 'Humans of' concept but rather with the exploitation of this concept for personal gain at the expense of authentic storytelling.
- He took a moment to commend Humans of Amsterdam for embodying the true spirit of an artist, implying that HoB had lost sight of this artistic essence.
Amsterdammers know. #amsterdam #construction #bikelife #humansofamsterdam pic.twitter.com/LFTCAyTM9K
— Humans of Amsterdam (@HumansofAdam) July 2, 2022
The Internet chips in
Stanton's statement stirred a flurry of responses, particularly from the Indian audience, who lauded his work in stark contrast to HOB founder Karishma Mehta's approach.
Many expressed their disappointment with Humans of Bombay, accusing it of being a mere imitation that commodifies human stories.
brandon stanton waking up to end humans of bombay after years of being silent (2023, real)
— defective pikachu⁷ (@kishi_asf) September 24, 2023
pic.twitter.com/ZKlHuOU8eA
Some questioned the authenticity of HoB's storytelling, while others raised concerns about the platform's use of copyright laws when sharing stories from individuals they interviewed.
Girl you literally built something of Brandon Stanton’s own are you okay https://t.co/MQLQhzue4I
— Nishtha (@nishizzles) September 24, 2023
ICYMI, the origins of the feud
To understand the context of this feud, it's important to note that Humans of Bombay had earlier accused People of India of copying its content, including its logo, tagline, and story format, which led to a legal battle filed in the Delhi High Court.
- The lawsuit sought damages and an injunction against People of India for using its content.
- Stanton had publicly criticised HoB for resorting to legal action and accused them of copying his own format.
I've stayed quiet on the appropriation of my work because I think @HumansOfBombay shares important stories, even if they've monetized far past anything I'd feel comfortable doing on HONY. But you can't be suing people for what I've forgiven you for. https://t.co/0jZM05YyTt
— Brandon Stanton (@humansofny) September 23, 2023
This case has indeed created a social media storm, with Stanton not holding back in his criticisms of Mehta and HoB.
The trolling against HoB and Karishma Mehta extended to various aspects of the platform, including its past controversies.
" Completely, randomly, out of the blue I stumbled upon the idea of Humans of Bombay " Karishma Mehta. As I said, she is a vile savarna woman and theft, lying, appropriation is all these savarna folks are good at . pic.twitter.com/E1N4xe5SPB
— Sachin Zore (@Sachinzore301) September 24, 2023
Many criticised what they perceived as a hypocritical stance and challenged the platform's integrity.
The audacity of copycat Karishma Mehta!!!!!!
— Maya (@Sharanyashettyy) September 23, 2023
Copycat Karishma Mehta's brazeness to respond to Brandon Stanton, the true OG, is absurd. She sued for what she herself copied—style, storytelling, and profited from it. @HumansOfBombay SHAME ON YOU. https://t.co/3ZuxtPEka1 pic.twitter.com/7qfd63jSwe
The feud is serving up some piping hot questions about the intersection of art and profit in the digital age. It's a reminder that even in the age of viral stories, the heart of storytelling remains a powerful force.