India’s Got Latent row LATEST UPDATES: Report hints at Samay Raina’s show cancellations

New Delhi: Comedy is subjective—at least, that’s what most people say. However, quite a few Indian comics have had careers that suggest otherwise. Tanmay Bhat, Vir Das, Munawar Faruqui, and now Samay Raina have all experienced first-hand that the Indian public does not take well to dark comedy.

After Ranveer Allahbadia’s controversial comment on India’s Got Latent, those involved have been facing nationwide backlash. FIRs, legal complaints, hate campaigns, and cancelled shows—Samay Raina is dealing with it all. Here are the latest updates on the comedian and the India’s Got Latent controversy.

India’s Got Latent Controversy: Latest updates

• According to Hindustan Times, Samay Raina’s Gujarat shows have been cancelled. The organisers have apparently backed out due to the ongoing controversy surrounding the YouTuber.
• Most recently, the biggest update has been Samay Raina’s response to the controversy after more than 36 hours of radio silence. The scandal began making headlines late on 9 February, and on Wednesday (12 February), Samay Raina took to social media to announce that he would be deleting all 18 episodes of India’s Got Latent. Additionally, he expressed his willingness to cooperate with authorities during the investigation.

Celebrities react to India’s Got Latent scandal

Since the controversy has snowballed into a nationwide debate, celebrities and fellow comedians have been sharing their opinions on the issue.

Take a look at Samay Raina’s response

Everything that is happening has been too much for me to handle. I have removed all Indias Got Latent videos from my channel. My only objective was to make people laugh and have a good time. I will fully cooperate with all agencies to ensure their inquiries are concluded fairly.…

— Samay Raina (@ReheSamay) February 12, 2025

TV comedian Bharti Singh, a household name known for her clean comedy, surprisingly took Samay Raina’s side. For those unaware, Bharti Singh and her husband, Harsh Limbachiyaa, were part of India’s Got Latent. Bharti Singh described Samay as a talented, brilliant, and kind-hearted person. She further added that no one is forced to say anything on the show:

“It is your decision whether you say it or not. Samay does not say, ‘Hey, open your mouth.’ He is a very brilliant and very sweet boy. He is liked by Gen Z. If you go there yourself, you will become his fan. He is so good,” said Bharti Singh.

On the other hand, music director AR Rahman appeared to take a dig at the comedian during the Chhaava event. When asked to describe his music in three emojis, the composer chose the ‘mouth closed’ emoji and remarked, “I think, in the past week, we have all seen what happens when the mouth opens.”

Meanwhile, public opinion remains divided. While some condemn Samay Raina’s show and the style of humour it promotes, others argue that the escalation of recent events is not worth spending resources on. Many believe the government should focus on real issues rather than targeting YouTubers over a passing comment.