On February 10, 2025, YouTube personality and content creator Ranveer Allahbadia, more popularly known as Beerbiceps, sparked controversy after telling an inappropriate joke on Samay Raina’s show, India’s Got Latent. Within no time, the joke began trending online with a lot of backlash and court trouble.
After the clip had gone viral, social media was filled with criticisms as many were apparently extremely disappointed with Allahbadia. FIRs were filed against him and others in the show, including influencer Apoorva Makhija and comedian Samay Raina, for “promoting obscenity.” The Mumbai Police initiated an investigation that heightened the public’s attention towards the show and its content.
Government Response and Free Speech Debate
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also added his two cents to the debate, stating that freedom of speech is there, but it doesn’t mean taking away someone else’s freedom. His statement fueled the debate regarding the limits of free speech and whether humour has its boundaries, especially on public platforms.
In response to the backlash, Ranveer issued a public apology, stating that he is “not a comic” and never intended to offend anyone. His apology failed to ease the outrage, as many highlighted the stark contrast between his typical content and the joke he made. His social media comment sections remain filled with disappointed followers questioning his judgment.
View this post on Instagram
Dark Humour or Overstepping Boundaries?
This case has once again brought out the debate over dark humour- is it okay to joke about anything, no matter how fragile, under the pretext of comedy? The show’s proponents argue that comedy is personal and litigation over a joke is too much. On the other hand, some find that certain topics must not be joked about at all, especially those that encourage crudeness or insensitivity.
Read More: “Beef Is Live, Spoiler Alert, I Never Died”: Drake
Similar Controversies in the Past
This is not the first instance when India’s Got Latent landed into trouble. An FIR had previously been filed against a contestant over remarks regarding the consumption of dog meat. Comedian Samay Raina was also targeted previously for his chuckles at off-colour jokes. The case does remind one of the obscenity cases that went against All India Bakchod in 2015, eventually forcing the group into oblivion.
With an ongoing investigation and mounting pressure, the future of India’s Got Latent hangs in the balance. Will it survive the backlash, or will it face the same fate as past controversial comedy groups? Only time will tell.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates