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Comedian Samay Raina’s upcoming stand-up shows in Gujarat have been canceled amid significant backlash over controversial comments made by panellists on his YouTube reality show, India’s Got Latent. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) claimed on Wednesday that tickets for Raina’s April performances were no longer available on BookMyShow, according to PTI.
The controversy erupted after social media influencer Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as ‘BeerBiceps’, made comments about parents and sex on India’s Got Latent. The clip went viral on Monday, sparking widespread criticism and leading to multiple police complaints in Mumbai and Guwahati.
Gujarat VHP spokesperson Hitendrasinh Rajput stated that Raina’s shows, originally scheduled for April 17 in Surat, April 18 in Vadodara, and April 19-20 in Ahmedabad, were canceled due to public outrage. “Though tickets were available until Wednesday morning, they have since been removed from the portal, suggesting the shows were canceled,” said Rajput.
VHP regional secretary Ashvin Patel also commented on the cancellation, attributing it to the controversy. “In light of the public anger, it appears the organizers have canceled Samay Raina’s shows in Gujarat. We appreciate the people of Gujarat for their vigilance, and I urge organizers to avoid hosting events of such individuals in the future,” Patel stated.
While Ranveer Allahbadia has already apologized for his “lapse in judgment,” the issue continues to generate strong reactions.
In response to the controversy, Samay Raina removed all episodes of India’s Got Latent from his YouTube channel. In his first public statement since the incident, Raina expressed regret and emphasized his intent to cooperate with authorities. “The situation has become overwhelming for me. I have removed all episodes of India’s Got Latent from my channel. My only goal was to entertain and bring joy. I will fully cooperate with all investigations to ensure fair proceedings,” Raina, 27, posted on X (formerly Twitter).
On Tuesday, the controversial episode was also taken down from YouTube following a directive from the central government. India’s Got Latent, which premiered in June 2024, has aired 18 episodes to date.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by Localtak staff.
