Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare – A True Story Uncovered

Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is an upcoming true crime documentary on Netflix directed by Lyttanya Shannon and produced by Kiran Sira, with Rebecca North as the executive producer. With a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes, this gripping documentary takes an in-depth look at Kirat Assi’s nearly decade-long catfishing ordeal involving ‘Bobby’.

Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is inspired by the real-life harrowing experiences of Kirat Assi, who fell victim to a calculated online deception.

The official logline for the documentary states:

“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.”

Unveiling the True Story Behind Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare

Kirat Assi, who lived in London in 2009, worked as an arts and events assistant at Hounslow Community Services and was a radio presenter on Radio Desi, catering to the Punjabi community.

In 2009, Kirat received an unexpected Facebook message from JJ, who was her cousin Simran’s ex-boyfriend, asking for advice on rekindling his relationship with Simran. They exchanged messages regularly for five months until Kirat learned of JJ’s tragic passing. Simran then asked Kirat to share condolences with JJ’s brother, Bobby.

Kirat discovered Bobby’s Facebook profile in November 2010, and their relationship began cordially, with Bobby expressing he was stuck in an unhappy marriage and expecting a child soon. Kirat even joined a Facebook group that consisted of Bobby’s 39 family members and friends.

However, in January 2014, Kirat was devastated to learn of Bobby’s sudden death. Later, she received a message claiming that Bobby had faked his death and was under witness protection. Kirat admitted that this seemed “ridiculous,”yet she was persuaded by Bobby’s friends and family who supported his bizarre narrative.

As their texting continued, their relationship took a sexual turn, although Kirat refrained from sending explicit images. Shortly before Valentine’s Day in 2015, Bobby proposed to her, strangely ending up engaged without a single in-person meeting or video call.

Whenever Kirat pressed for a face-to-face meeting, Bobby conjured elaborate excuses—claims of heart attacks, brain tumors, gunshot wounds, and comas. As time went on, he grew increasingly controlling, frequently initiating conflicts and expressing suicidal thoughts.

This led to a severe decline in Kirat’s mental health, culminating in the loss of her job. Frustrated, she decided to hire a private investigator, who discovered Bobby’s real address. When Kirat confronted him, her world unraveled as she learned Bobby was actually a happily married man with a child.

It was then Kirat discovered she had been catfished by none other than her cousin, Simran Bhogal, who confessed to posing as Bobby on June 11, 2018.

Simran not only created Bobby’s fraudulent Facebook profile but also fabricated the entire web of supporting friends and family. Kirat was heartbroken, realizing that she had shared her relationship struggles with Simran throughout this entire ordeal.

Kirat later shared that the emotional and psychological damage was profound, leading her to lose friends, her job, and her savings. She expressed that this experience deprived her of ten years of her life and the possibility of marriage and motherhood.

After an 18-month legal battle, Kirat received a significant financial settlement, covering her legal fees, along with an official apology letter from Simran.

In January 2022, Kirat told the Guardian she was concerned about the chance of running into Simran again since they lived only 20 minutes apart and were extended family.

“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

Prior to the documentary, Kirat shared her remarkable story on the podcast Sweet Bobby, which was hosted by Alexi Mostrous and launched in 2021. The six-part series quickly gained fame as listeners were drawn to the chilling narrative of this extended catfishing saga.

The real Bobby also participated in the podcast, revealing that Simran was simultaneously deceiving him while creating the façade of Bobby for Kirat.

The Sweet Bobby podcast is available through Tortoise Media.

Plot Summary of Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare

In 2009, 32-year-old Kirat was eagerly anticipating starting her own family when an unexpected encounter with ‘Bobby’ on Facebook drastically changed her life.

Kirat believed that Bobby was a Sikh cardiologist residing in Australia. Their interactions primarily took place through text on WhatsApp, Skype, and Messenger; they eventually became engaged without ever meeting in person.

The documentary features photographs, message screenshots, and exclusive interviews with Kirat, her family, and friends, delineating how she fell victim to a complicated fraud that involved as many as 60 fictitious characters over nearly a decade.

Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare serves as a cautionary tale about online deception. Its extraordinary narrative and unexpected twists make it both compelling and heart-wrenching to view.

Mark your calendars: Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is set to premiere on Netflix on October 16, 2024.

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