Stand-up Shows by Comedian Samay Raina Cancelled in Gujarat

Stand-up shows by Samay Raina are now off in Gujarat due to backlash associated with comments made by a guest on his YouTube reality series, India’s Got Latent. According to the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), performances scheduled for April in cities such as Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad have been removed from the ticket-selling platform, BookMyShow.

Outrage Over Remarks Leads to Cancellations

Controversy erupted following a viral clip featuring social media personality Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps. In this video, Allahbadia’s remarks about parents and sex ignited significant backlash, resulting in police complaints filed in Mumbai and Guwahati.

Hitendrasinh Rajput, a spokesperson for the VHP, commented, “It seems all four of these shows have faced cancellation due to public dissatisfaction in Gujarat. Although tickets were still available on BookMyShow until Wednesday morning, they have now been removed from the site.”

Public Response and Organiser Statements

Ashvin Patel, the VHP’s regional secretary, made remarks indicating that the cancellations were a direct response to public uproar. “We appreciate the vigilance of the people of Gujarat. I urge event organisers to refrain from hosting performers like him in the state,” Patel stated.

Ranveer Allahbadia’s Apology

Ranveer Allahbadia has since expressed regret for what he describes as a “lapse in judgement,” but the issue continues to gain momentum.

Samay Raina’s Reaction

In his initial public response, Raina declared on Wednesday that he had taken down all episodes of India’s Got Latent from his YouTube channel. He stated, “The events unfolding have become overwhelming for me. I have deleted all episodes of India’s Got Latent from my channel. My primary aim was to entertain and bring joy. I am committed to collaborating with all agencies to ensure an objective inquiry. Thank you,” Raina posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The government had previously instructed YouTube to remove the contentious episode on Tuesday. Having launched in June 2024, India’s Got Latent had 18 episodes aired before its subsequent withdrawal.

(With PTI inputs)