Podcaster and YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, has issued a public apology on his social media channels following massive backlash over his controversial remarks on Samay Raina’s show "India's Got Latent." In a public apology video, Allahbadia acknowledged his mistake and vowed to use his platform more responsibly.
In his apology, Allahbadia stated:
"My comment wasn't just inappropriate, it also wasn't funny. Comedy is not my forte. I am just here to say sorry. Many of you have asked if this is how I wish to use my platform and obviously this is not how I wish to use it. I am not going to give any context or justification or reading behind whatever happened. I personally had a lapse in judgement.. wasn't cool on my part. The podcast is watched by people of all ages… don't want to be the kind of person that takes that responsibility lightly… I need to use this platform better… that's been my learning from this whole experience. I promise to just get better. I have asked the makers of the video to remove the insensitive sections from the video. And all I can say in the end is I am sorry, I hope you can forgive me as a human being."
This public apology comes in the wake of severe criticism and outrage that erupted after Allahbadia’s appearance on "India's Got Latent." During the episode, Allahbadia made a series of crass remarks, including asking a contestant, "Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once and stop it forever?" The comment, along with earlier inappropriate queries such as asking about the size of the contestant's privates and offering Rs 2 crore for explicit favors, quickly went viral.
The backlash was swift and severe. Social media users condemned his remarks, with prominent figures and viewers decrying the comment as "downright ugly" and indicative of a broader decline in the quality of comedy. Journalist and lyricist Neelesh Misra took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the creator community for normalizing such content, while Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate and popular YouTuber Gaurav Taneja (Flying Beast) also voiced their disapproval.
Adding to the pressure, a formal complaint was filed against Allahbadia, alongside social media influencer Apoorva Makhija, comedian Samay Raina, and the organisers of "India's Got Latent." The complaint, lodged with the Mumbai Commissioner and Maharashtra Women's Commission, calls for strict action against those responsible for the offensive language used on the show.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis weighed in on the controversy, stressing that while freedom of speech is cherished, it must not infringe upon the freedom and dignity of others. "I have come to know about it. I have not seen it yet. 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… In our society, we have made some rules; if someone violates them it is absolutely wrong and action should be taken," Fadnavis remarked.
The controversy surrounding "India's Got Latent" is not new; the show has faced criticism before. However, Allahbadia’s remarks pushed the boundaries further, drawing widespread condemnation and prompting calls for accountability in the creator community.
With this apology, Allahbadia appears to be taking responsibility for his lapse in judgment, promising to learn from this experience and improve how he uses his influential platform. As the dust settles on this incident, the conversation about the limits of comedy and the responsibility of digital content creators continues to evolve in India's dynamic media landscape.
