Netflix has released a documentary, “Sweet Bobby,” that retells this story of betrayal.

Kirat Assi, a London-based radio presenter, thought she would finally meet the man she had fallen in love with. They had been texting each other for nine years. However, when the two faced each other, Ms. Assi met someone she never expected. In a shocking twist, their entire relationship had been an elaborate catfishing scheme orchestrated not by a stranger but by someone much closer to her – a cousin, Simran. Now Netflix has released a documentary Sweet Bobby: My catfish nightmare, I tell this story of betrayal again.

It all started in 2009 when Ms Assi received a friend request from “Bobby”, a supposed cardiologist from west London. This soon developed into a long-distance relationship. The two shared connections within their Sikh community, which made the relationship seem genuine.

Over time, their online conversations deepened, but as the years went by, their connection remained virtual, and Bobby continued to give bizarre reasons why they couldn't meet in person. According to a BBC report, the excuses were nothing short of dramatic – claims of being shot, having a stroke and even being in witness protection. However, what convinced Ms. Assi of these lies were the people she believed confirmed his stories. They were always close to Bobby, or so she thought.

After nine years of emotional manipulation, Ms. Assi was finally confronted with the truth – the whole thing was a hoax, and the man she thought she was in love with didn't even exist. She had been the victim of a cat trapping program and the person behind the messages was not Bobby, but her cousin Simran.

According to an article in Birmingham Live, Ms Assi actually leaned on Simran for support throughout the ordeal. But one day Simran dropped the bombshell and revealed to a devastated Ms. Assi that she had not been communicating with Bobby the entire time, but with Simran himself.

The discovery left Ms Assi devastated and questioned her judgement. “How could you be so stupid?” According to a BBC report, she is now thinking about it.

Kirat Assi's experience was first shared in a popular 2021 podcast by Tortoise, but the story has since gained renewed attention with the release of the Netflix documentary Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare.

Ms Assi says she has faced criticism and questions, with many asking how she could fall for such a scheme. “For people who might still think I'm stupid, that's fine, you're allowed to express your opinion,” she told BBC Asian Network News, adding: “I'm not stupid, I'm not stupid.” am the one chosen to speak. I am the one putting myself in the line of fire and I hope others will come forward.”

Ms Assi believes it is important to tell her story publicly, particularly given the stigma surrounding such issues within the South Asian community in the UK. She explained that fear of judgment often silences victims: “We are very afraid to talk about these issues. Because of the way a community is perceived by broader society, victims in our communities continue to suffer.”

This reluctance to address uncomfortable topics was evident even in her own family. Talking about her father’s experience of the situation, Kirat Assi said: “He doesn’t want to know what happened. Because it will be painful to come to terms with what happened and how terrible it was.”

Despite the traumatic experience, Kirat Assi remains open to discussing her experiences and encourages people to reach out to her with any questions.

However, no criminal case was brought against Simran for catfishing, but Ms Assi filed a civil lawsuit against her, which resulted in compensation and an apology. The Netflix documentary included a statement from Simran in which she said she viewed the situation as a “private matter” and denied the allegations made against her.

Although Kirat Assi has sought a solution, she says the motivation behind Simran's fraud remains a mystery. “I think I gave up a long time ago. The extent to which this person has shown can never be justified. I can’t understand why you haven’t stopped,” Ms Assi said.

Despite this, she is determined to move on, rebuild her life and even start dating again. “I will continue to work towards my goals and dreams,” she said.