National award-winning singer B Praak, also known as Pratik Bachan, has expressed strong disapproval of the comments made by Ranveer Allahbadia on Samay Raina's YouTube reality show India's Got Latent and said he has cancelled his appearance on an upcoming podcast of the former.
Allahbadia's comments of a distasteful nature have ignited controversy, with personalities in various fields questioning the encouragement of such content on social media, with some going as far as contacting YouTube to take strict action against Allahbadia, also known as Beer Biceps, who later apologised for his "lapse in judgement".
Some have pointed to the fact that Allahbadia only apologised on his official 'X' and Instagram handles, which have relatively fewer followers than his YouTube channel.
In an Instagram video, Praak said: "I was supposed to appear on a podcast, on Beer Biceps, and we cancelled that. Why? Since we are all seeing how pathetic his thinking is. The choice of words that he has used on Samay Raina's show. This is not our Indian culture. What story are you telling about your parents? What are you even talking about? Is this comedy? This is not at all comedy. Abusing people, teaching people how to abuse, what kind of generation (is this)? I don't understand."
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo has written to YouTube's head of public policy in India and asked for "urgent action" against those involved.
Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters on Monday that while he has yet to see the clip, he asked people to exercise prudence when it comes to encroaching upon the freedom of others. "Everyone has the freedom of speech, but our freedom ends when we encroach upon the freedom of others... In our society, we have made some rules, and it is absolutely wrong if someone violates them. Action should be taken against them."
In a press statement, All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has "vehemently condemned" the show, remarking that the "abhorrent and vile statements" were deeply disrespectful to our "societal and family values".
"Such disgraceful content is utterly unacceptable and poses a significant threat to the moral fabric of our society," they wrote, while calling upon "all actors, filmmakers, directors, and technicians to immediately cease any collaboration with individuals involved in this show, including host Samay Raina and Ranveer Allahbadia."
