Influencer Ranveer Allahbadia’s distasteful comment on parents and sex led to massive outrage across the spectrum on Monday, prompting the YouTuber with almost 16 million followers on social media platforms to apologise and say comedy is not his forte.
The flip remark intended for quick laughs raised hackles instead with politicians, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, activists, social media users and others calling for a ban and slamming him for being crass, vulgar and offensive.
The comment was made on the YouTube reality show India’s Got Latent hosted by comedian Samay Raina, popular amongst some sections for its often offensive content.
Allahbadia, who has over 600,000 followers on X, 4.5 million on Instagram and 10.5 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, said the comment, which cannot be reproduced here, was a “lapse in judgement”. The 31-year-old, popularly known as Beer Biceps, also said he has asked the show creators to remove the controversial segment.
“Comedy is not my forte. Just here to say sorry… Many of you asked if this is how I wish to use my platform…. Family is the last thing that I would ever disrespect. Need to use this platform better and that’s been my learning from this whole experience. I promise to just get better… I hope you can forgive me as a human being,” he said in a video statement on X.
In Mumbai, a BJP functionary lodged a police complaint against Allahbadia, Raina and participants of the show.
In mounting trouble for him, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo wrote to YouTube’s head of public policy in India and asked for “urgent action”.
The content in question “prima face appears to be in violation” of various legal provisions under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Information Technology (IT) Act and other applicable laws, the letter reads. (PTI)