What began as a heartfelt tribute quickly spiraled into an intense social media showdown. On Doctor’s Day, Indian Chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi shared a warm selfie with his family—his father, mother, wife, and sister—accompanied by the caption: “Happy Doctor’s Day to my entire family.”
The post, seemingly innocent, sparked an unexpected backlash. When a user on X (formerly Twitter) asked about their specializations, Vidit replied: “My father is an Ayurvedic migraine specialist, my wife is an MD in homoeopathy, my mom does cosmetology, and my sister is a physiotherapist.”
Enter Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips—widely known online as The Liver Doc—who responded bluntly: “I am sorry, but none of them are really doctors.”
That one line opened the floodgates.
I am sorry but none of them are really doctors. pic.twitter.com/ppj1rvWNre
— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) July 2, 2025
Vidit, initially choosing silence, soon found himself compelled to speak out. Responding with sharp words, he fired back:
“Your entire brand and personality is built on insulting others. While you chase retweets by tearing people down, my family quietly heals lives without needing a spotlight. They’ve helped more people than your ego can count. Stay in your lane. And for a change, try being useful.”
Your entire brand and personality is built on insulting others.
While you chase retweets by tearing people down, my family quietly heals lives without needing a spotlight.
They’ve helped more people than your ego can count.
Stay in your lane. And for a change, try being useful. https://t.co/jr7TR7NQol
— Vidit Gujrathi (@viditchess) July 3, 2025
Dr. Philips didn’t hold back either. In a detailed response, he insisted his comment wasn’t meant as a personal insult. However, he stood firm on his stance: calling practitioners of Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Cosmetology “doctors,” in his view, misrepresents what clinical medicine truly is. He emphasized the importance of medical accuracy in public health, cited his qualifications, and accused Vidit of ignorance on medical matters.
Hello, Vidit. I am not a fan of chess, but you are an important person for our country and I did not mean to offend your family. I am sure they are good people. I was stating plain facts from a professional standpoint and I do not mince my words. You may call that ego or… https://t.co/ITVqYG8Uee pic.twitter.com/ZBb2WFMbN7
— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) July 3, 2025
The exchange continued to draw attention, with supporters rallying on both sides. On Thursday, Vidit addressed the issue once more, writing:
“I made a simple post out of gratitude. I chose silence at first, because not every conversation deserves a response. But when it turned into mocking my family, I stepped in. If that means stepping out of my lane, so be it.”
In a final note, he added: “You and trolls like you don’t get to decide who’s a doctor. You have no authority to define others’ lives or dismiss their work. I’ve said my part. Now, back to what actually matters. No time for noise.”
I made a simple post out of gratitude.
I chose silence at first, because not every conversation deserves a response.
But when it turned into mocking my family, I stepped in.
If that means stepping out of my lane, so be it.
You and trolls like you don’t get to decide who’s a… https://t.co/jIno3uvvZ1
— Vidit Gujrathi (@viditchess) July 3, 2025
The digital spat has stirred wider debates on medical legitimacy, professional respect, and where the line should be drawn between criticism and personal attacks. But as Vidit returns to the chessboard, he leaves the online uproar behind—unmoved, unbothered, and focused.
