YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia apologises for obscene jokes on 'India’s Got Latent': 'Comedy not my forte'

Dubai: YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia issued an apology on X (formerly known as Twitter) following backlash over his controversial comments during a roast show entitled 'India's Got Latent'.

According to reports, Allahbadia admitted his remarks were "inappropriate", stating, "Comedy is not my forte" and acknowledging that his behavior "wasn't cool."

"I am just here to say sorry. Many of you asked if this is how I wished to use my platform and obviously this is not how I wish to use it ... I am not going to give you context ... I am here just for an apology," said Allahbadia in a video message. Looking contrite, he said that he had a lapse in judgement.

The apology comes as social media users, political leaders, and fans criticised his crass humor, sparking a wider discussion about boundaries in comedy.

He also added that he would never think of disrespecting anyone, especially family.

"I promise to be better ... I have asked the makers to remove the insensitive portions from the video. All I can say is that I am sorry and I hope you can forgive me," said Allahbadia. He's known for his vanilla questions and seemingly empathetic questions to celebrities and well-known figures in his podcast.

Despite his clarification, the fallout from the incident continues to escalate, with multiple complaints and criticism from various quarters.

Two Mumbai-based lawyers have lodged complaints against Allahbadia and other participants, alleging that the remarks disrespected women and violated moral standards. The complaints, filed with Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phalsankar and the Maharashtra Women's Commission, demand swift action against those involved.

Journalist and lyricist Neelesh Misra also voiced his dismay, criticising the show’s creators for their lack of accountability.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Misra condemned the normalization of crude content, highlighting its potential impact on young audiences. “Decency is not incentivised in India—platforms and audiences encourage creators to stoop lower for reach and revenue,” he wrote, adding that the audience’s laughter reflected a troubling acceptance of perverse humor.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate called Allahbadia’s comments “perverted”.

“The fact that this sick comment met loud applause must worry us all,” she said.