Last Updated:
Samay Raina apologizes to Supreme Court for remarks on India’s Got Latent, pledging sensitive content and legal compliance in future shows.
Supreme Court rapped comedians, including Samay Raina, for their “insensitive jokes” mocking persons with disabilities.
Comedian Samay Raina tendered an unconditional apology before the Supreme Court for remarks made on his show that were seen as ridiculing persons with disabilities and rare genetic disorders. In an affidavit, Samay Raina- who hosted the now-defunct India’s Got Latent show- said he never intended to belittle anyone and was committed to “inclusive and sensitive content creation”. He pledged to ensure “better conduct, content sensitivity, and legal compliance” in the future.
‘Encouragement, Not Ridicule’
Recommended Stories
Samay Raina referred to a controversial clip of his interaction with a visually impaired individual, saying the full transcript reflected “encouragement and compassion rather than ridicule”. He added that he later invited the individual to perform at a Mumbai event, where they received a standing ovation and emotional support. The comedian said that while his mimicry was intended as a performance, he recognised that “even mimicry, when involving sensitive characteristics, must be approached with greater care and social awareness”.
Samay Raina’s affidavit came ahead of a Supreme Court hearing in which a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed five social media influencers to issue unconditional public apologies for mocking vulnerable groups. The Supreme Court asked the Centre to frame guidelines to curb offensive content targeting persons with disabilities, women, children and senior citizens.
“Freedom of speech and expression cannot extend to commercial speech that hurts the sentiments of vulnerable communities,” the bench said. Justice Bagchi added that comedians should be “more cautious while creating humour related to different communities, especially when it pertains to apartheid in society.”
Justice Kant observed, “There should be some accountability. Today it is disabled people but tomorrow it can be women, children and senior citizens.”
Samay Raina and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia face cases filed in Maharashtra and Assam over derogatory content on India’s Got Latent. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court granted Ranveer Allahbadia interim protection from arrest, calling his remarks “vulgar” and saying he had a “dirty mind” that put society to shame. Others named in the Assam case include Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh and Apoorva Makhija.
Loading comments…
Read More
