In today’s digital age, being funny isn’t about satire or clever wordplay- but the goal is to be as offensive as possible, and somehow, that’s considered hilarious. We’re talking about insults disguised as “jokes,” influencers who get millions of followers and views by body-shaming, or mocking others, and a society that appears to reward bad behavior with likes and shares. And the craziest part? We are all part of it. We’re the ones watching, clicking, and even laughing. Is this really the kind of comedy we want? Is this what we find entertaining?
Influencers are gaining popularity because we as an audience think that it is ‘cool’ to be abusive. So bullying others, commenting negatively is normal as they even get invited for shows, advertisements and the cycle goes on. The more we support them, the more we are promoting dirt in society. The entire roast culture has gone completely out of control where there are no limits to anything. If we, as an audience, continue to consume such problematic entertainment, why would they ever stop? They are benefitting regardless of outrage.
Comedy As A Social Mirror?
Historically, comedy was never just about making people laugh-it was about making people think. Playwrights and comedians have used humor to expose hypocrisy, challenge power structure, and critique societal norms. Comedy was meant to hold up a mirror to society. There have been so many plays in history which have overthrown rulers and also created revolutions.
But somewhere along the way, that mirror cracked. Racist jokes, sexist remarks, caste-based humor, and insensitive content targeting mental health are not edgy or bold comedy- they are cheap shots towards the audience. Platforms are increasingly flooded with crude, offensive, and obscene content disguised as humor.
The Controversy: Ranveer Allahbadia and India’s Got Latent
The recent controversy of Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as Beerbiceps, has reignited the debate on freedom of speech, content responsibility and the moral obligations of content creators. Ranveer Allahbadia, a well-known content creator with 4.5 million Instagram followers and 10.5 million YouTube subscribers, recently made a vulgar remark on India’s Got Latent, a comedy show hosted by Samay Raina. The show has more than 7.3 million subscribers and 30 million views every episode.
In the latest episode, Ranveer Allahbadia asked an explicit question to a contestant-
“Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day or join them once to finish it forever?”
He further made an apology for his statement. His apology was not one of genuine remorse but of convenience, delivered with detachment. He only expressed regret when 2.5 million subscribers walked away, and more continue to leave. Ranveer would not have apologized if the media hadn’t questioned it because, shockingly, everyone in the audience—including the other comedians—was laughing. He deliberately made the remark, fully aware that it would spark conversation and amuse the audience. This isn’t content creation—it’s sensationalism at its lowest. He didn’t just mention incest; he repeated it, indicating that it was a conscious choice rather than an offhand joke. You might call this entertainment, but since when did incest become a source of entertainment? You might argue that this is just being edgy, but when did crossing moral boundaries become a mark of being cool? Even on his YouTube channel, he has leveraged religion to drive traffic, packaging Hinduism in a way that he believes will attract viewers. He commercializes faith, treating it as a marketable asset. Several Legal complaints have been filed, prompting a broader discussion about the responsibilities of digital content creators.
The Ethics of Influencing: What Responsibility Do Creators Have?
Social media influencers hold immense power, shaping public discourse and influencing young audiences. Imagine a 12-year-old stumbling upon a video featuring explicit sexual jokes and demeaning remarks about race and disability. What kind of message does this send? The issue is not just about free speech—it’s about the ethical responsibility that comes with a massive following. Many influencers capitalize on public sentiment, controversy, and sensationalism for engagement, much like political figures who manipulate faith and identity for self-promotion. If this trend continues, the digital space will further exploit ethical standards, making way for content that prioritizes virality over integrity.
As a society, we need to reflect on the nature of our content economy. Are we truly comfortable with this being the dominant form of entertainment? True content creation should involve intellectual discourse, education, and meaningful storytelling—whether in history, politics, technology, or entrepreneurship. Today, In a digital medium, content creation seems like certified trash. A line must be drawn—this is not free speech. Free speech is not an excuse for moral degradation. With great power comes great responsibility, and mass media—whether traditional or digital—should be held to ethical standards. If left unchecked, tomorrow these individuals will normalize rape, assault, sexual harassment, and crime under the name of entertainment.
So, is this really the future of entertainment? A world where the loudest, most offensive voices reign supreme, and genuine wit is drowned out and there would be no decency in public discourse? We, the audience, hold the power. It’s time to ask ourselves: do we really want to tune in to this?
