Priyanka Tiwari
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Stand-up comedian Samay Raina's scheduled shows in Gujarat have been officially cancelled. This decision follows widespread criticism and controversy surrounding his show, India's Got Latent. On Wednesday, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced that Raina would no longer be performing in Gujarat, and tickets for his shows have been removed from the ticketing platform BookMyShow.
According to VHP spokesperson Hitendra Singh Rajput, Raina was set to perform four shows across Gujarat:
- April 17 – Surat
- April 18 – Vadodara
- April 19-20 – Ahmedabad
Rajput stated that all these shows have been cancelled due to growing public anger. He further claimed that while the tickets were available on BookMyShow until Wednesday morning, they have now been taken down.
VHP Appeals to Organizers
VHP regional secretary Ashwin Patel also commented on the situation, expressing gratitude towards the people of Gujarat for opposing such performances. He urged event organizers to refrain from hosting shows featuring individuals like Raina in the state.
The Controversy Behind the Cancellation
The backlash began after BeerBiceps podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia asked an inappropriate question to a contestant on India's Got Latent. Reports claim that he made explicit comments regarding private body parts and allegedly offered Rs 2 crore. However, the controversy intensified due to offensive remarks related to the contestant’s parents.
One of the most criticized moments was when Allahbadia asked: "Would you rather watch your parents having sex every day or join in once to stop it forever?"
This question, reportedly taken from a foreign show, shocked many of his followers, who know him for his spiritual persona. The incident has led to widespread criticism from politicians, film industry figures, and the general public, with increasing demands to ban the show.
FIR Filed Against Show’s Judges
As the controversy escalated, a police complaint was lodged against Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina, and the other judges of the show, including Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorva Makhija. Recently, the police recorded the statements of Ashish and Apoorva, where they claimed that the show was unscripted and that judges were not financially compensated.
In response to the public outcry, Allahbadia issued an apology. Following this, Samay Raina also released a statement on Wednesday night, which quickly went viral.
Samay Raina Deletes Show Episodes
In his statement, Raina announced that he had removed all episodes of India's Got Latent from his YouTube channel. He expressed his distress over the controversy, stating:
"It has become very difficult for me to handle everything that is happening. I have deleted all the episodes from my channel. My only intention was to entertain and make people laugh. I will fully cooperate with the investigating agencies to ensure a fair investigation. Thank you."
Despite these actions, the controversy continues to gain momentum, raising concerns about the future of India’s Got Latent and the broader implications for stand-up comedy and digital entertainment in India.
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