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How did Kirat Assi and Bobby meet? All about Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare subjects
Netflix’s latest true-crime documentary, Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, was released on October 16, 2024.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare revolves around the true story of Kirat Assi, who was trapped in an elaborate catfishing scheme that resulted in a long-distance relationship spanning more than a decade. The official synopsis of the documentary reads:
“A woman's online courtship takes an unsettling turn when her romantic interest harbors a dark secret and sinister motives, leading to a harrowing ordeal.”
Kirat Assi is a London-based radio host who first spoke to Bobby on Facebook in 2011. The two were both part of the local Sikh community, which initially sparked things off and led to the development of a fake long-term connection between the two.
Assi repeatedly asked her ‘boyfriend’ to meet her during this period. However, even as Bobby’s emotional hold over Assi grew, he would always find a way to refuse an in-person meeting between the two.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare - Kirat Assi and Bobby's relationship explored
While the two initially began talking via Facebook, Kirat Assi would ask Bobby to meet her repeatedly. However, her requests would be met with various obstacles that Bobby would create, and the two continued their long-distance relationship via social media.
Although the two continued to ‘date,’ it was almost 8 years into this relationship that Assi stumbled onto the truth. As it turned out, Bobby was actually part of a catfishing scheme initiated by a family member. Assi discovered the truth in 2019 through a private investigator. Since then, Assi has publicly shared her story to spread awareness
She began the Sweet Bobby podcast, produced by Tortoise Media in 2021, to expose the story. However, Netflix's Sweet Bobby My Catfish Nightmare takes a step further and includes a range of photos, screenshots from conversations, and interviews with Assi herself to unravel the mystery.
The documentary also made use of various cybersecurity experts to explain the situation. As it turns out, it was back in 2011 that Assi first received the friend request. ‘Bobby’ had a range of mutual friends with Kirat, who did not suspect anything.
The two began chatting online, which soon developed into a deeper friendship owing to the cultural similarities. Kirat, who was struggling with intimacy issues already, began treating Bobby as a confidante and eventually wanted to meet him. However, Bobby initially claimed that he had a wife who had cheated on him and was going through a painful divorce.
This was followed by a series of lies and excuses. Bobby cited ill health and made multiple fake accounts. These accounts acted as Bobby's 'friends and acquaintances' and would back up his claims related to his lack of availability in person.
This shared vulnerability further brought the two closer, even though other signs pointed to the truth. Kirat had stumbled across Bobby at a club in Brighton, where the latter did not seem to recognize her. However, Kirat was intent not to embarrass him, and the two continued their relationship.
The two eventually grew even closer, even as ‘Bobby’ made up a series of lies to keep up his deception, including several fibs of a tumultuous personal life. However, things finally took a turn when Kirat ran out of patience. This happened after Bobby failed to meet her despite being in London, where she lived.
When she investigated at the hotel he claimed to be, Kirat found out nobody was staying there. She then proceeded to hire a private investigator. At this point in Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, it is revealed that the person Kirat was in a relationship with was her cousin, Simran Bhogal.
Simran used real photos of a person named Bobby Jandu to fabricate her own deceptions. Jandu is a dental surgeon based in Brighton, UK, and was acquainted with Simran through his brother, JJ, who had dated her.
Kirat decided to file a civil case against Simran, citing emotional damage. She won the lawsuit, although no criminal charges were filed against Simran.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is now streaming on Netflix.
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