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Durov's remarks drew backlash from social media users, who accused him of objectifying women and trivialising espionage allegations through a racially charged joke about female spies targeting corporate executives.
Pavel Durov's post on X invited widespread backlash.
New Delhi,Nov 12, 2026 17:00 IST
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has triggered a backlash after making a sexually suggestive and racially charged joke about foreign intelligence agencies allegedly using women to target powerful business executives. Taking a swipe at the espionage controversy surrounding Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, the billionaire suggested that CEOs who are not attracted to Asian women have fewer chances of being approached by female spies. He then questioned why intelligence agencies from France, Russia and Iran had not sent anyone his way.
Durov's remarks, posted on X, came amid reports about Huang's alleged relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed . The alleged relationship has been linked to speculation about a possible Chinese intelligence operation.
"Unfair that CEOs who aren’t into Asian girls get fewer dating options from spy agencies. Where are the French/Russian/Iranian honeypots? Not one spy girl sent my way. Are they even trying? France is excused — their decision-makers aren’t into girls. Everyone else: try harder!" the Russian-born Telegram CEO wrote.
The post drew sharp criticism from social media users, who accused Durov of reducing women of different nationalities to potential romantic targets for intelligence agencies and making light of serious espionage allegations involving corporate secrets.
One user described the post as "cringe", while another questioned Durov's remarks about Russia, writing, "You willingly work with the Russian government, why would they send a honeypot?"
Another user objected to his reference to Iranian women, saying, "Pavel, you can make jokes about spy agencies all you want, but don’t talk about Iranian women like that. Iranian women deserve respect, not to be reduced to dating options in your jokes".
Others dismissed the post as an unsuccessful attempt at satire. "So this is where humor comes to die," another user replied.
Apart from his reference to Asian women and alleged intelligence operations, Durov's remarks about France also attracted attention. His comment that French decision-makers were "not into girls" was interpreted by some users as a reference to online conspiracy theories targeting French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron.
The theories, which have circulated widely on social media, make false claims about Brigitte Macron's gender identity. They have been repeatedly debunked.
Durov's post came amid reports surrounding Nvidia chief Jensen Huang and his alleged relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed .
The controversy intensified after reports suggested that US intelligence officials were examining whether Alice Huang had links to China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) and whether she had been used to establish a relationship with the Nvidia chief to obtain sensitive information.
The allegations have raised concerns because of Nvidia's central role in the global artificial intelligence industry and the US government's restrictions on exports of advanced AI chips to China.
However, Alice Huang's alleged involvement in a Chinese intelligence operation has not been independently established.
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