A recent episode of India’s Got Latent, featuring influencers Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia (Beer Biceps), and Apporva (The Rebel Kid), has sparked outrage due to a vulgar and sexist comment made by Allahbadia. The remark quickly went viral, igniting widespread criticism across social media platforms.

Azazul Haque, Group Chief Creative Officer at Creativeland Asia, voiced his disapproval on LinkedIn, vowing to distance himself from Raina and Allahbadia, referring to them as “an empty bunch of scumbags.” Haque further expressed his disgust, highlighting the inappropriate joke involving parents in a sexual context, condemning the entire episode for lowering the standards of content creation.

Despite the episode being exclusive to members, clips from the show went viral, fueling the controversy. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also weighed in on the matter, asserting that while freedom of speech is a fundamental right, it must not encroach upon the rights of others. He stated that action should be taken against anyone violating the societal rules.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, Member of Parliament and Shiv Sena (UBT) Deputy Leader, vowed to bring the issue to the Standing Committee on IT & Communication, urging for boundaries to be set. She expressed concern over the influence of such platforms on young minds, emphasizing that the language used by Allahbadia and encouraged by others on the comedy panel was completely unacceptable.

Following the backlash, Allahbadia posted an apology on social media, acknowledging that the comment was not only inappropriate but also lacked any humor. He admitted that comedy wasn’t his forte and expressed regret for his words. Despite this controversy, Allahbadia had recently received the Disruptor of the Year award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2024 National Creators Award.

The episode was sponsored by Cashify, but the brand declined to comment when approached by afaqs!. This isn’t the first time India’s Got Latent has faced criticism. In past episodes, the show has been accused of making derogatory remarks about differently-abled individuals, mocking depression, and making offensive comparisons about celebrities.

Despite these controversies, Raina remains a sought-after figure for brands due to his edgy humor, though it’s a risky choice for many companies. Brands like boAt, KFC, Spinny, Swiggy, and Blinkit have collaborated with him in the past.

In a notable 2022 collaboration, Deepti Karthik, a fractional CMO, shared her experience working with Raina. She recounted how a post, although generating over Rs 25 lakh in sales, received backlash and was ultimately removed due to negative sentiment. Karthik regretted the partnership, highlighting that while Raina’s content generated a substantial ROI, it didn’t align with the brand’s values.

As the fallout continues, it remains to be seen whether brands will prioritize the return on investment (ROI) generated by Raina and Allahbadia or take a moral stance and distance themselves from the duo.

In a live stream, Raina revealed that the show is currently operating at a loss. However, he remains optimistic about the future, believing that the membership model will help sustain the show. He also shared that OTT platforms had offered large sums to acquire the intellectual property, but he turned them down, citing concerns over losing control of the narrative.

The ongoing situation raises important questions about the balance between humor, responsibility, and the role of influencers in shaping public discourse.

Author: By Levina Joseph