Viewers of Netflix are claiming that a new documentary, described as ‘absolutely twisted,’ kept them constantly guessing and left them feeling ‘sick’ to their stomachs.
Renowned for its intriguing documentaries, Netflix has captivated audiences with recent true crime series like Worst Roommate Ever and its sequel Worst Ex Ever.
The latest documentary from Netflix explores the shadowy realm of catfishing, where individuals are deceived into relationships through fake online personas.
Fans of Max and Nev’s MTV show, Catfish: The TV Show, are familiar with this deceptive practice.
However, many are not as knowledgeable, with recent statistics revealing that around 20,000 individuals fall victim to catfishing each year in the US.
Across the Atlantic, the UK is not immune to such scams, as demonstrated by Kirat Assi, who was involved in an online relationship for nearly ten years with a man she never met.
Kirat believed she had connected with a charming cardiologist named Bobby through Facebook. They shared mutual friends within their London Sikh community when they first interacted in 2010.
Their initial friendship quickly evolved into a deep romantic relationship. But whenever Kirat tried to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Bobby, he always provided elaborate excuses.
Kirat shared her experience with Netflix Tudum, stating: “People think coercive control can’t happen online, but it can. It slowly breaks you down to the point where you’re not yourself anymore.”
After eight years, Kirat was devastated to discover the real identity behind Bobby’s Facebook profile. She now shares her story in Netflix’s Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare.
The trailer is available to watch below:
Currently ranking fourth in the Netflix US film charts, the documentary has prompted many viewers to express their reactions on Twitter. One tweet read: “#SweetBobby on #Netflix is spine chilling. Extremely shook. The extent to which humanity can stoop to is just unf*****gbelievable. This is more than just #catfishing”.
Another viewer echoed these sentiments: “Sweet Bobby on Netflix has me sick in my stomach. My brain cannot comprehend the extent of crazy/twisted that a person can be. I literally have no trust in human kind.”
Many have been eager to recommend the documentary. As one viewer noted: “If you want your absolute pants blown off of you I need you all to watch ‘Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare’ on Netflix… just. what the f**k.”
Another agreed: “Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is a must-watch documentary on Netflix… Be careful of people you talk to on social media.”
Another recommendation read: “If you’re trying to find something to watch, give Sweet Bobby on Netflix a go. Absolutely twisted, had me constantly guessing what was going on”.
Kirat’s story was initially featured in a 2021 Tortoise podcast, which gained significant attention from listeners.
Reflecting on the response, she told Netflix Tudum: “I thought it would just blow over, that it wasn’t going to be anything big. Little did I know that it would take over. It just blew up out of proportion.”
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is now available for streaming on Netflix.