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Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is an upcoming true crime Netflix documentary directed by Lyttanya Shannon, and produced by Kiran Sira. Rebecca North served as the executive producer on this as well. With a run time of 1 hour and 22 minutes, it takes a deep dive into Kirat Assi's catfishing experience with 'Bobby' that lasted nearly 10 years.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is based on the true story of Kirat Assi's harrowing catfishing experience.
The documentary's official logline reads:
"Kirat falls for a man she meets online, only to get swept up in a virtual relationship that upends her life for years, in this shocking documentary."
Exploring the real story behind Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare
In 2009, Kirat Assi, a resident of London, worked as an arts and events assistant at the Hounslow Community Services. She was also a radio presenter who hosted Radio Desi, a program for the Punjabi community in London.
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The same year, Kirat received a random Facebook message from JJ, her cousin Simran's ex-boyfriend, seeking advice on how to win Simran back. The duo texted regularly for the next five months before Kirat learned that JJ had died. Simran asked Kirat to send her condolences to JJ's brother, Bobby.
She first came across Bobby's Facebook profile in November 2010. Their relationship began on friendly terms, with Bobby telling her that he was stuck in an unhappy marriage and was soon going to be a father. Later, Kirat joined a Facebook group that included 39 of Bobby's family members and close friends.
Then in January 2014, Kirat learned that Bobby had suddenly died. She was later informed via mail that Bobby faked his death and was actually in a witness protection program. Kirat later acknowledged that it all sounded "ridiculous," but said she fell for it because his family and friends backed up the insane story.
They began texting and, with time, their online relationship turned sexual, though Kirat ensured never to send n*des to Bobby. A few weeks before Valentine's Day in 2015, Bobby proposed to Kirat. Strangely, the couple got engaged virtually without meeting or video calling even once.
Whenever Kirat insisted on meeting him in person, Bobby would come up with mind-boggling excuses for why he could not meet her. He would tell her that he had a heart attack, was diagnosed with a brain tumor, was shot multiple times, was in a coma, etc. During this time, he also became very controlling, would start a fight easily, and talked about committing suicide often.
All of this took a toll on Kirat's mental health, which eventually caused her to lose her job. Frustrated at the situation, she finally hired a private detective, who found out Bobby's home address. Soon, she headed over to his house to confront him. Her world turned upside down when she realized that Bobby was happily married with a child.
Kirat soon understood that she had been catfished and was shocked after learning the identity of her catfisher, her female cousin, Simran Bhogal. Simran confessed to Kirat about being the real 'Bobby' on June 11, 2018.
Not only had she created Bobby's fake Facebook profile, but also created the Facebook group of Bobby's friend network. Kirat felt devastated as she had been confiding in Simran about her relationship woes with Bobby this whole time.
Kirat later remarked that the incident took such a mental and emotional toll on her life that she lost her friends, job, and savings in the ordeal. She said that it took away ten years of her life and the possibility of getting married and having a baby.
Kirat litigated the case for 18 months and was awarded a substantial payout, including her legal costs. Additionally, she also received a formal letter of apology from Simran.
In January 2022, Kirat spoke to the Guardian about the possibility of running into Simran again as she lived only 20 minutes away and is an extended family member.
“I don’t want to see or speak to her again for the sake of my health. I just want her to be held accountable for her actions and to take responsibility. And if she needs help with her mental health, she should get that, too.”
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is based on a popular podcast
Before Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, Kirat had recounted her harrowing experience in the podcast, Sweet Bobby. The six-part podcast was hosted by Alexi Mostrous and released in 2021. It became an instant hit upon its release as listeners were drawn to the chilling details of the decades-long catfish story.
The real Bobby also appeared in the podcast and revealed that Simran had been catfishing his brother at the same time that she was catfishing Kirat.
The Sweet Bobby podcast is now available at Tortoise Media.
Plot summary of Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare
In 2009, the 32-year-old Kirat was looking forward to getting married and starting her own family. However, a chance encounter with 'Bobby' on Facebook altered the course of her life dramatically.
Kirat believed Bobby to be a Sikh cardiologist living in Australia. The two stayed in touch primarily via text over WhatsApp, Skype, and Messenger and eventually got engaged without meeting even once.
The documentary presents photos, screenshots, and exclusive interviews with Kirat, along with her family members and friends. It recounts in vivid detail how she fell victim to a complex fraud that involved as many as 60 fake characters and went on for nearly a decade.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare serves as a cautionary tale of online deception. Its unbelievable story and plot twists make it both intriguing and heartbreaking to watch.
The Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare documentary is scheduled to air on Netflix on October 16, 2024.
