After honking spat, ‘review bombing’ crashes Kodagu homestay rating from 4.8 to 1.2

A taxi driver allegedly coordinated a 'review bombing' campaign against Avocado Cottages in Madikeri, Kodagu, after a honking spat with owner Madan.

The homestay's Google rating crashed from 4.8 to 1.2 stars within hours after hundreds of taxi drivers and social media users posted one-star reviews.

The incident began with a viral video of the altercation between the driver and Madan, who denied assault but admitted to using abusive language.

The driver alleged he was assaulted and his vehicle damaged, while Madan claimed the confrontation stemmed from repeated honking by the driver over three days.

The review bombing has raised concerns about the impact of coordinated online campaigns on businesses' reputations in Karnataka.