What should’ve been a quiet, final step in a very public separation became the talk of the town—thanks to a T-shirt.
On the day of their final divorce hearing, Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal was spotted leaving the Mumbai family court wearing a striking T-shirt that read:
“Be Your Own Sugar Daddy.”
While social media exploded with memes and reactions, what most people didn’t see was the emotional toll it took on his now ex-wife, choreographer and content creator Dhanashree Verma, who recently broke her silence in a candid, heartfelt interview on Humans of Bombay.
💔 The Moment That Broke Her
“I had mentally prepared myself for the hearing. I kept telling myself: ‘You’re strong, you can do this,’” Dhanashree recalled. “But the moment the judge said it’s done, I broke down. I howled. I couldn’t hold it in.”
Amid her emotional breakdown, what stunned her more was the optics of Chahal’s outfit.
“He walked out first, and I hadn’t seen it yet,” she said. “But soon everyone was talking about his T-shirt. I thought to myself—‘Bhai, WhatsApp kar deta… T-shirt kyun pehna?’”
The line, now echoing across social media, reveals a mix of disbelief, hurt, and her signature dry humor. “You don’t show up to something that marks the end of a marriage with a slogan on your chest like that.”
👁️ Public Spectacle vs. Private Pain
The divorce of Chahal and Dhanashree has been tabloid fodder for months. From cryptic Instagram stories to fan theories about alleged fallouts, their breakup has unfolded under constant digital surveillance.
Yet for Dhanashree, this wasn’t a headline—it was heartbreak.
“I didn’t want to scream, shout or create drama,” she said. “My values don’t allow that. I believe in moving forward with grace. That’s how I was raised.”
She described the T-shirt moment as a “low blow,” but chose not to retaliate, despite having “a million reasons to.”
🧑⚖️ Experts Weigh In: Style or Statement?
Dr. Neha Mehta, a psychologist and relationship expert, says this kind of performative fashion isn’t just about clothes. “Wearing a T-shirt with a phrase like that to a divorce hearing is a loud message. It’s about control, image, and often about hiding pain through performance.”
Many online were quick to judge Chahal’s choice as “petty,” while others praised it as “iconic.” But for someone going through the very real pain of separation, the joke didn’t land.
📱 Social Media Reacts: From Jokes to Genuine Support
Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit lit up the moment photos of the T-shirt surfaced. While memes flooded in, so did support for Dhanashree.
“Laugh all you want, but imagine showing up to your final hearing and the other person wears a slogan like that. That’s emotional violence,” wrote one user on X.
“She handled it with class. Respect,” said another.
🌱 New Beginnings and Forward Focus
Despite the spectacle, Dhanashree says she’s focused on growth, peace, and rebuilding. She’s now doubling down on her dance content, mental health advocacy, and creating safe spaces for women in the public eye.
“Closure doesn’t come from the other person’s apology,” she said. “It comes from knowing you didn’t lose yourself in the process.”
🧾 Final Word
What started as a T-shirt has now become a national conversation about emotional maturity, image games, and what divorce looks like in the social media era. Dhanashree Verma’s story reminds us that behind every headline is a human being — hurting, healing, and rising.
