The Tunak Tunak Tun emote in Fortnite was added to the files in Chapter 3 Season 1. However, data miners have now revealed that it has been removed from the files owing to the controversies surrounding Daler Mehndi.
Tunak Tunak Tun is based on a song by the popular Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi. The song is a massive hit in India, and naturally, millions of players were delighted when Epic Games decided to add it as an emote to its iconic battle royale title.
The article below will detail why loopers might never witness the Tunak Tunak Tun emote in the Item Shop.
Master the game with our Fortnite Interactive Map v33.00 here!
Fortnite permanently removes Tunak Tunak Tun due to Daler Mehndi's controversial past
Tunak Tunak Tun has been an iconic song in the Indian music industry for years. With the advent of social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, it has gained global recognition. Epic Games tried to further capitalize on the song's popularity by making it an Icon Series emote, with leakers even showcasing the dance ahead of its potential release.
As it turns out, Daler Mehndi's personal life isn't as cordial as his music career. Back in 2018, he was arrested and sentenced to two years in jail in a 15-year old human trafficking case. Daler and his brother Shamsher allegedly took 'passage money' and 'dropped off' people in the United States.
Daler Mehndi was granted bail by a court in Patiala, but the incident has definitely stained his legacy. This also seems to be the only rational reason behind Fortnite removing his emote from the reputed Icon Series.
Daler Mehndi receives the Travis Scott treatment from Fortnite
The aforementioned incident is similar to Fortnite removing Travis Scott's cosmetics from the Item Shop following the rapper's controversial concert in which many people lost their lives. It is evident that Epic Games wants to maintain its 'kid-friendly' image and avoid any sort of dissension within their community.
It is no surprise that fans of Daler Mehndi have called out Epic Games for removing the Tunak Tunak Tun emote from the game's files. They were eager to spend their V-Bucks on an Indian emote and proudly use it in lobbies. This faction claims that Daler Mehndi's past should not affect his ability to create a global impact through music.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are many players who strongly oppose the Tunak Tunak Tun emote. Apparently, they do not want to associate themselves with someone who's been involved in heinous offenses like human trafficking.
Amidst all these contrasting opinions, it is unlikely that players will get to witness the Tunak Tun emote in the Fortnite Item Shop anytime soon.
Players might still have hoped the emote would some day make its way into the item shop. But it seems that the final traces of the emote have now been completely scrubbed clean, making its return highly unlikely.