The relationship between former Indian cricketers Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh has soured again, with former revealing he has cut all ties with latter.

This fresh turn in their long-standing "slapgate" saga stems from a recent advertisement featuring Harbhajan that used the 2008 incident for comedic relief, which Sreesanth alleges allowed the veteran spinner to profit nearly INR 1 crore.

Sreesanth stated that while he had forgiven Harbhajan in the past, he found the act of commercialising the 2008 slapgate incident unacceptable, noting it "doesn't sit well" with him.

Sreesanth also claimed that Harbhajan not only did the ad but also asked him to share the video on his own social media channels, which he refused.

"I have never spoken about Bhajji in any interview. This is going to be the first time. Until recently, there were no problems, but he made an ad about it once again. He made around ₹80 lakh to ₹1 crore off it. He then called me and asked me to put a story on it. I told him, ‘I'll forgive, but I'll never forget," Sreesanth told Mathrubhumi, a Malayalam news outlet.

“If someone wrongs you, you should forgive them, but never forget. If you forget, they will do the same thing again. He is the biggest example of that. There is no doubt about that,” he added.

Sreesanth confirmed that he has blocked Harbhajan on Instagram. "I have no relationship with that person. I used to call him a brother. But in that last 1 or 2 months, he did that ad, and now I have blocked him on Instagram,” the former India pacer said.

“My parents have taught me to forgive but never forget. I don't have any complaints against him, nor do I need him. May God bless him and his family. In many interviews, even with Ashwin, he talked about my daughter. People will think, ‘Oh, what a great person he is.’ He might be a great person. But for me, from my time playing for India to now, in my opinion, it's all an act. That act is something Sreesanth doesn't accept," he remarked.

The "slapgate" controversy resurfaced in August 2025 following the release of previously unseen, high-definition footage of the incident by former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi on Michael Clarke’s Beyond23 Podcast.

In the never-seen-before footage, Harbhajan could be seen slapping Sreesanth with the back of his hand during the post-match handshakes.

Sreesanth was left in tears after the incident, being consoled by his captain and Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene. Harbhajan then once again proceeded to return towards Sreesanth, making an animated gesture before Irfan Pathan and Mahela diffused the situation.

While Harbhajan had previously expressed deep regret over the "slapgate" episode, this new commercial has renewed the controversy.