What began as a crowdwork moment at a comedy show has snowballed into a much larger debate online. A viral clip from comedian Pranit More’s performance is facing backlash across social media, with many viewers arguing that the issue goes beyond an audience member’s remarks.As the clip continued to circulate, creators including Kusha Kapila and Dolly Singh weighed in, raising questions about accountability, consent, and whether creators can distance themselves from content they choose to record, edit, and share with millions online.
Kusha Kapila says sharing content is a conscious choice
Actor and content creator Kusha Kapila addressed the controversy through a series of Instagram stories and videos, questioning the idea that creators can completely distance themselves from comments made during their shows.According to her, content undergoes several stages before being uploaded, making its publication a deliberate decision.Sharing her views, Kusha wrote:“Urge women to call out disgusting comedy plenty. Please darna mat (don’t feel scared). Bakwaas kiya hai toh drag karo badiya se (If they have spoken nonsense, then feel free to drag it too). Uploading a clip like that is a choice. Choosing to crack certain jokes and hosting that on your channel is a choice. This, btw, is not comedy. This is content designed to get a reaction. I am so glad that so many women are calling it out (sic).”She also welcomed the criticism the clip has received and added:
“Bahut achcha lag raha hai! Bahut mazza aa raha hai! Aaj main apne paiso se order karke biryani khaungi (I feel amazing; it feels great to see this. I will order biryani with my own money and eat it tonight).”
Her message to men: Don’t stay silent
In another Instagram story, Kusha urged men to speak up against such remarks instead of remaining silent. She said standing up for one’s beliefs should not be seen as taking sides and encouraged men to call out comments they disagree with.
Dolly Singh joins the criticism
Influencer Dolly Singh also shared her reaction through an Instagram post and criticised the incident.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.She wrote:“We’ve all seen the recent male comedian incident where not only did he let an asshole degrade a woman, promote extremely sexist and creepy behaviour on his live show, laughed, clapped, laughed so hard he got up from his seat, requested a recreation of the incident, asked for details, got concerned over a religious mention but not for a woman, calculated the price of a kiss with said woman at 12Rs, called that man the funniest in the room and rewarded him with a cash prize of 5000Rs. Disgusting behaviour (sic).”
Pranit More apologizes
As criticism around the clip intensified, Pranit More issued a public apology and admitted that he should have handled the situation differently.He said:“I’ve seen the criticism regarding a recent crowdwork clip. The comments made by the audience member do not reflect my views. Looking back, I should have challenged the remark instead of laughing and moving on. That was a lapse in judgment on my part.”More further added:“I appreciate everyone who raised their concerns respectfully. I sincerely apologize for whatever happened, and I’ll take this lesson forward. I’m human, and like anyone else, I’m constantly learning.”Disclaimer: This article is based on statements and content shared on social media platforms. The Times of India has not independently verified all claims, opinions, or allegations mentioned by the individuals involved.Thumb image: Instagram