Has Tanmay abandoned 'friends' Ranveer, Samay?
What's the story
Comedian-ad writer Tanmay Bhat is well aware of facing flak for objectionable comedy. So, when his colleagues and friends, Samay Raina and Ranveer Allahbadia, got caught in the eye of the storm of India's Got Latent (IGL) controversy, fans expected Bhat to speak up. While Bhat has been online, even using keywords from the controversy in his YouTube videos, he hasn't given out any statement in the official sense. This led a netizen to question his silence.
Response
'We are literally here doing our job...'
In a recent video, Bhat read out a fan's comment: "How come these people are not taking a stand for everything that's happening?" Fellow comedian and former AIB colleague Rohan Joshi, who was also part of the video, responded, "We are literally here doing our job. What more stand do you need?" Bhat also disclosed that Allahbadia had not responded to his messages after the incident.
Investigation update
Meanwhile, Allahbadia was questioned by Cyber Cell
To recall, Raina's popular YouTube show IGL was taken down from the platform pending an investigation into a controversial episode with Allahbadia. The podcaster had asked a contestant a distasteful question about parents and sex, leading to multiple FIRs against all panelists and past judges of the show. As part of the probe, Allahbadia was grilled by Maharashtra Cyber Cell officials for nearly two hours in Navi Mumbai on Monday.
Official stance
Allahbadia's statement on cooperation with authorities
During questioning, he accepted his mistake and explained he appeared on IGL because Raina is his friend and clarified that he didn't receive any payment for this. "My team and I are cooperating with the police and all other authorities. I will follow due process and be available to all agencies." He regretted his insensitive remark, admitting it as a moral responsibility to improve. The podcaster had earlier revealed he and his family had been receiving death threats.