Comedian Samay Raina, known for the show “India’s Got Latent,” recently faced significant backlash due to a contestant’s joke about Deepika Padukone’s experience with depression.
In response to the social media uproar, Raina made a playful comment on Monday, humorously suggesting that critics use their anger to generate ad revenue for him.
On Instagram Stories, Raina shared a Reddit notification about the controversy titled, “Comedian’s joke on Deepika’s depression sparks outrage.” He then added, “To everyone who is outraging on Twitter, one request: Could you please outrage in my YouTube comment section so I get some ad revenue from the traction, at least?” He also shared a link to the “India’s Got Latent” episode where the joke occurred.
a contestant on India's got latent trolled #DeepikaPadukone for her fake sob story which she created to defame her ex. pic.twitter.com/E2v0FxM8b2
— V🐧 (@V_for___) November 17, 2024The controversy began after contestant Bunty Banerjee remarked Padukone, stating, “Deepika Padukone also became a mother recently, right? Great, now she knows what depression really looks like.” She then paused briefly before adding, “I’m not trying to insult breakup-wala depression… I am.”
#SamayRaina seemed unfazed by the controversy surrounding a joke on #DeepikaPadukone's depression on the latest episode of his show, India's Got Latent.
Read his post here: https://t.co/Wx8oTYv5jS
(via @htshowbiz) pic.twitter.com/SDIBa81O3o
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) November 19, 2024This comment quickly sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning it as insensitive and dismissive of mental health struggles. Critics argued that the joke trivialized clinical depression, a serious and globally stigmatized condition. The fact that the comment came from a woman about another woman’s difficulties was particularly disappointing to some.
India’s Got Latent contestant jokes on Deepika Padukone’s depression battle, triggers outrage: ‘Not cool’ https://t.co/7NQp9Jgf8B
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) November 18, 2024Raina and fellow panellists Tanmay Bhat, Raghu Ram, neurologist Dr Sid Warrier, and comedian Balraj Singh Ghai were seen laughing at the remark, which intensified the backlash. Critics accused them of belittling a sensitive issue. Despite the controversy, “India’s Got Latent” is still recognized for its bold and unconventional comedy style.
