Naga Chaitanya has responded to the growing controversy surrounding his divorce from actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, following comments made by Telangana Minister Konda Surekha. The minister had linked Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao (KTR) to the couple’s separation, alleging that he was involved in blackmailing female actors, including Samantha.

In an Instagram post, Naga Chaitanya supported his former spouse but avoided directly naming her. He described the decision to divorce as a painful but mutual one, made with respect and dignity. Chaitanya expressed his disappointment over the baseless rumors that had circulated since the announcement of their split.

Naga Chaitanya’s Statement

“The decision to divorce is one of the most painful and unfortunate life choices one has to make,” Chaitanya wrote. “After much thought, both my former spouse and I decided to part ways. It was a peaceful decision, made due to differing life goals, and we aimed to move forward respectfully as mature adults.”

He further condemned the comments made by Minister Konda Surekha, calling them false and unacceptable. “The claim made by Minister Konda Surekha garu is not only false, it is absolutely ridiculous. Women deserve respect and support. Exploiting the personal decisions of celebrities for media headlines is shameful,” he added.

Samantha’s Response

Earlier, Samantha Ruth Prabhu had also addressed the controversy on her social media, clarifying that their divorce was a mutual decision, and no political conspiracy was involved. She urged people to stop speculating about her personal life.

“My divorce is a personal matter, and I request that you refrain from speculating. The decision was mutual, with no political conspiracy involved. I have always remained non-political and wish to continue doing so,” Samantha stated.

Political Fallout

The remarks by Konda Surekha sparked outrage, with several BRS leaders and Naga Chaitanya’s father, actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, condemning the comments. Nagarjuna urged Surekha to withdraw her statement and respect the privacy of others.

“I strongly condemn Minister Konda Surekha’s comments. Do not use the personal lives of movie stars to criticize your opponents,” Nagarjuna said in a post on X.

BRS leaders Harish Rao and Satyavathi Rathod also demanded an apology from Surekha, with Rathod warning of legal action for defamation.