Varanasi Horror-Themed Restaurant Faces Criticism After Child Scared in Viral Video
1 hour agoSocial
28LENS
2 SourcesVaranasi, India
TBNthebalanced.news

Varanasi Horror-Themed Restaurant Faces Criticism After Child Scared in Viral Video

A video from Varanasi's Kankal Horror Restaurant showing a staff member in a ghost costume frightening a young boy has gone viral, drawing widespread criticism. The boy is seen crying and pleading as he is scared, while some viewers condemned the restaurant for prioritizing shock value over sensitivity. The incident has sparked debate about the appropriateness of intense scares in themed dining experiences, especially involving children, with calls for the restaurant to reconsider its approach.

Political Bias
0%100%0%
Sentiment
30%
AI analysis of 2 sources · Published under editorial oversight by The Balanced News
Analysed 19 Apr 2026· How this analysis is produced· Editorial standards· Corrections

AI Analysis

Political bias across 2 sources
● Left 0%● Center 100%● Right 0%

The articles primarily focus on the social and ethical aspects of the incident without political framing. Coverage centers on public reactions and ethical concerns about the restaurant's practices, representing viewpoints of critics who question the appropriateness of scaring children and the restaurant's promotional choices. There is no evident political bias or partisan perspective in the reporting.

Sentiment — Negative (30/100)

The overall sentiment across the articles is negative, emphasizing public disapproval of the restaurant's scare tactics that distressed a child. While the themed experience is acknowledged as intended entertainment, the tone highlights criticism and concern over insensitivity and shock value, reflecting a predominantly critical and cautionary mood.

How 2 sources covered this story

Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.

SourceTheir headlineBiasSentiment
ndtv'Ghost' Waiter At Varanasi's Horror-Themed Restaurant Makes Boy Scream, Internet Says "Not Funny"CenterNegative
indiatodayVaranasi 'horror' restaurant staff dressed as ghosts leave boy screaming in tearsCenterNegative

Coverage timeline

indiatoday broke this story on 19 Apr, 07:41 am. Other outlets followed.

  1. 1
    indiatoday19 Apr, 07:41 am
    Varanasi 'horror' restaurant staff dressed as ghosts leave boy screaming in tears
  2. 2
    ndtv19 Apr, 09:41 am
    'Ghost' Waiter At Varanasi's Horror-Themed Restaurant Makes Boy Scream, Internet Says "Not Funny"

Lens Score breakdown

28/100
Public interest0/100
Coverage gap100%

Well-covered story — coverage matches public importance.

Story context

Category
Social
Location
Varanasi, India
Sources analysed
2
Last analysed
19 Apr 2026
Key entities
Horror fictionViral videoVaranasiSkeletonInstagramFogShock valueNeonMacabreNovelty songCutleryDiner