“I Was Trying To…”: Samay Raina Deletes All India’s Got Latent Videos
Comedian Samay Raina has removed every “India’s Got Latent” video from his channel, saying the ongoing controversy has become too much for him to handle. In a statement posted on X, he wrote: “Everything that is happening has been too much for me to handle. I have removed all India’s Got Latent videos from my channel. My only objective was to make people laugh and have a good time. I will fully cooperate with all agencies to ensure their inquiries are concluded fairly. Thank you.”
The decision follows a storm of criticism over contentious remarks made by fellow YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia during the latest episode of the show. Allahbadia, who boasts over 16 million followers, sparked outrage after his on-air comments about parents and sex provoked widespread condemnation. In his controversial remark, he asked whether viewers would prefer to watch their parents engage in sex every day for the rest of their lives or join in once and put an end to it altogether. The comment, which many found both vulgar and insensitive, has since led to multiple FIRs being registered under the Information Technology Act, and the Maharashtra Cyber Department has summoned Raina as well as other participants from the show.
In the aftermath, Allahbadia has attempted to mitigate the backlash by issuing a video apology, describing his comment as a “lapse in judgement” and admitting that “comedy is not his forte.” Nonetheless, his remarks have ignited a fierce debate over the limits of free speech and the responsibilities of entertainers. Critics argue that such crude humour is not only inflammatory but also completely inappropriate for a platform that purports to offer light-hearted entertainment.
Defenders of the show contend that “India’s Got Latent” was a subscription-based comedy programme designed for an audience accustomed to irreverent street language, with some insisting that no one in the audience was ever abused or hurt by the language used. However, the growing public fury over Allahbadia’s comment reflects a wider discomfort with what many see as the degradation of public discourse. Prominent voices have warned that if state intervention in such matters is allowed to creep in, the delicate balance between free expression and decency could be irreparably disturbed.
For his part, Raina maintained that his sole intention was to bring laughter and enjoyment to his viewers. Yet, with several FIRs now filed against him and his co-hosts, including high-profile figures like Apoorva Makhija, the controversy appears set to escalate further. As the debate intensifies, questions remain over the appropriate boundaries for comedy and whether state authorities should be allowed to police humour in today’s digital age.
