Abstract
Analyzing the chronology of the events that ensued in relation to a statuary rape case between a film actor and a juvenile singer in Nepal, this article examines how discourse on social media was employed to perpetrate violence against the rape survivor and women in general. We focus on how participation in online media reinforces beliefs associated rape culture and gender-based sexual abuse. Specifically, the analysis demonstrates four key discursive strategies being used to slut shame the rape survivor: victim blaming, revictimization, moral judgment and cancellation. Our findings yield two primary arguments. Firstly, technological affordances and platforms perpetuate slut shaming by reinforcing the norms and mechanisms inherent in digital misogyny across various social media platforms. Secondly, these discourses not only reflect but also reinforce toxic patriarchal norms prevalent offline in Nepali society, which normalize and institutionalize sexual violence against women. Our arguments draw on thematic and discourse analysis of comments, images and videos circulated on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.