By R. Rakendu
A controversy has raised following the comments made by content creator and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps, during an episode of India’s Got Latent, comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show. The episode which included content creators and social media influencers like Apoorva Mukhija (The Rebel Kid), Ashish Chanchlani, and comedian Jaspreet Singh, went viral after Ranveer Allahbadia asked a question about parents and sex, leading to significant backlash. The comments quickly sparked public outrage, with many feeling that the question he asked was inappropriate and offensive. The seriousness of the situation increased after several police complaints were filed, resulting in legal action from Maharashtra’s cyber department.
The remarks quickly ignited public outrage, with many criticizing them as inappropriate and offensive. The situation escalated after multiple police complaints were filed, leading to legal action by Maharashtra’s cyber department. An FIR was registered against Allahbadia under the Information Technology Act. Facing mounting pressure, Allahbadia issued an apology, describing his comments as a ‘lapse in judgement’ and emphasized that ‘comedy is not his forte.’
The controversy reached new heights when it was raised in Parliament. Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said that this incident was a wake-up call for government to bring legislative reforms and impose stricter regulations on social media content.
In response to the situation, YouTube removed the offending episode from its platform following government orders. The National Commission for Women (NCW) is also looking into the case and has summoned key figures involved to appear for questioning in New Delhi on February 17, 2025.
Comedian Samay Raina publicly expressed the toll the controversy has taken on him. Raina announced on social media that he had removed all episodes of India’s Got Latent from his YouTube channel, explaining that the ongoing situation had become too much for him to handle. He assured that his only intention was to entertain and make people laugh and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
He emphasized that his sole aim was to entertain and bring laughter to people, and promised to fully cooperate with the investigation. Despite facing backlash, Raina’s stand-up performances in Ahmedabad and Surat have been cancelled due to the controversy, although he is still set to perform in various cities across the U.S. and Canada.
The aftermath of the incident has ignited a wider discussion about freedom of speech, the standards of decency in comedy, and the limits of online content. Initial investigations indicated that earlier episodes of India’s Got Latent included vulgar and obscene language, leading to increased scrutiny from authorities.
As the investigation progresses, the case remains a focal point in a larger dialogue about the responsibilities of content creators and the regulation of social media platforms in India. The events surrounding the show have highlighted that the distinction between humour and offense is a highly debated topic in the changing landscape of digital entertainment.