Comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina is currently facing professional setbacks due to the ongoing controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent. The show, which aired a controversial episode featuring guests Ranveer Allahbadia, Ashish Chanchalani, and Apoorva Mukhija (also known as The Rebel Kid), has led to widespread backlash. In the middle of the outrage, two of Samay Raina’s scheduled Unfiltered performances at Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium have been cancelled, further complicating the comedian’s career trajectory.
The controversy began in February 2025 when an episode of India’s Got Latent included a disturbing interaction between Allahbadia and a contestant. During the segment, Allahbadia asked the contestant an inappropriate and insensitive question that many viewers found offensive. The question was, “Would you rather watch your parents… or join in once and stop it forever?” This comment immediately sparked anger and led to the filing of FIRs (First Information Reports) in Maharashtra and Assam, accusing the show of promoting obscenity and indecency.
In the wake of the public outrage, Samay Raina, who co-hosted the show, removed all episodes of India’s Got Latent from his YouTube channel and issued a public apology, acknowledging that the comments made during the episode were not in line with his values. Despite these actions, the legal and social repercussions have continued to grow, with Samay Raina now facing legal inquiries and the cancellation of his professional engagements.
Ticket Refunds and Show Cancellations: Impact on Samay Raina’s Career
Samay Raina’s Unfiltered comedy shows, scheduled for March 21 and 23, 2025, at Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium, have been officially cancelled due to the ongoing controversy. The shows, which were promoted as sold-out events on the popular ticketing platform BookMyShow, were expected to attract a large audience. However, just days before the shows, attendees received a message from BookMyShow informing them of the cancellation. The message stated: “Your Samay Raina Unfiltered – Talkatora Stadium Show scheduled on Fri Mar 21 2025 (or Sun Mar 23 2025) 7:00 PM at Talkatora Stadium Delhi has been cancelled. Sorry for the inconvenience caused. We have processed the refund for the amount… The refund should reflect in 7 to 10 working days.”
The cancellation is a downfall of Samay Raina’s career, as his Unfiltered comedy shows had been a major part of his live performance circuit. BookMyShow assured ticket holders that their payments would be refunded within 7 to 10 working days, which has done little to assuage the disappointment of fans who were eagerly awaiting his performance.
In addition to the Delhi shows, reports have emerged that his shows in Gujarat, scheduled for April, have also been cancelled due to the fallout from India’s Got Latent. This further highlights the growing impact of the controversy on Samay Raina’s ability to secure and maintain professional engagements. The cancellations not only affect his comedy career but also have financial ramifications, as ticket sales for these shows were expected to be a source of revenue.
Legal Troubles Continue as Maharashtra Cyber Cell Issues Second Summons
Amid these professional challenges, Samay Raina is also dealing with legal pressure. The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has issued a second summon to Samay Raina, demanding him to appear in person to record his statement in connection with the controversial India’s Got Latent episode. Initially summoned on March 17, Samay Raina did not appear, citing prior commitments that prevented him from returning to India before March 17. He had requested to provide his statement via videoconferencing from the United States, but the Cyber Cell rejected his request, insisting that his statement must be recorded in person. Samay Raina has now been directed to appear on March 19, 2025, to comply with the investigation.
The legal investigation and ongoing controversy have raised questions about the responsibilities of digital content creators, especially in comedy. The incident has sparked a broader debate about the content that is produced for large audiences and the consequences of crossing boundaries in an increasingly sensitive social and legal environment. As Samay Raina continues to face the fallout from India’s Got Latent, it remains to be seen how his career will be affected in the long term.
To Read More: India’s Got Latent Controversy: Samay Raina Removes Videos Amid Growing Backlash