YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia, known for his popular BeerBiceps channel, has apologised for the obscene joke that he made during an episode of comedian Samay Raina's India's Got Latent show on the video-sharing platform. The apology has come after a complaint was filed with the Mumbai Commissioner and Maharashtra Women's Commission for using “highly offensive, grossly obscene” remarks on the show.
Social media influencer Apoorva Makhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, and the show's organiser Samay Raina were also booked for the same offence.
Sharing a video on X, he wrote, “I shouldn’t have said what I said on India’s got latent. I’m sorry.”
In the video he said, “My comment wasn’t just inappropriate. It wasn’t even funny, comedy is not my forte. I am just here to say sorry, many of you asked if this is how I wish to use my platform and obviously this is not how I wish to use it and I am not going to give any context or justification or reasoning behind whatever happened, I am just here for an apology I personally had a lapse in judgment, wasn’t cool on my part.”
Allahabadia added that he has also asked the makers of the video to remove the insensitive sections from the video.
Watch the video:
What’s the controversy about?
During the episode, Allahbadia asked a contestant, "Would you rather watch your parents have sex for the rest of your life — or would you join in once and stop it forever?” The controversial question stirred a massive row on the internet, with many stressing the need for stricter regulations on online content.
Joining the debate, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday hinted at action against the YouTuber, saying, "Everyone has freedom of speech, but our freedom ends when we encroach upon the freedom of others".
When reporters asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to comment on the YouTuber's controversial remarks, he said, "I have received information on this, but did not watch it personally. Things have been said and presented in a wrong way. Everyone has freedom of speech, but our freedom ends when we encroach upon the freedom of others. This encroachment, in my opinion, is wrong."
"There should be a dignified way of expressing ourselves. In our society, there are rules against obscenity. It is very wrong for someone to violate those rules, and action should be taken against the violators," he added.
Earlier, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also lashed out at Allahbadia, saying that "we can't normalise perverse behaviour as cool".
"This isn’t creative. It’s pervert. And we can’t normalise perverse behaviour as cool. The fact that this sick comment met loud applause must worry us all," she posted on X.
Former National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma said this kind of joke is never accepted by society.
"Making jokes about a mother or a woman's body doesn't look good, and somewhere it shows how today's youth has stooped down to such a level morally. I think such jokes affect others who are engaged in similar creative things. I have forwarded that video to the NCW Chairperson to take action," Sharma, also a Rajya Sabha MP, added.
