Troubles continue to mount for comedian Samay Raina. Just days after the Supreme Court directed him to pay Rs 3 crore in compensation, the latest season of India's Got Latent has landed in another controversy.
The third episode of the Netflix show, featuring Samay Raina, Tanmay Bhat, Raghu Ram, Balraj and Yash on the panel, has gone viral over contestant Sakshi Jha's remarks during her audition.
Introducing herself as a "man hater", Sakshi claimed she disliked not only men in general but even her father and brother. When asked about a statement she had written as her goal, she said, "Mujhe pati ko daru peekar marna hai" (I want to beat my husband after drinking alcohol). She later added, "Main toh Gen Z, kuch to alag hona chahiye na" (I'm Gen Z, so something should be different).
Sakshi also said a "good man" is someone who blindly obeys his wife. Her act failed to impress the judges, with every panellist awarding her zero points. When Samay later asked the audience to rate her performance, they too responded by chanting "0". Sakshi, however, had given herself eight points.
Following the episode, clips of her audition quickly spread across social media, triggering widespread criticism. Unverified reports also claimed that she had been suspended from her teaching job in Bihar, although no official confirmation has been made.
Amid the backlash, Samay Raina came out in Sakshi's support. Sharing a video on his Instagram Stories, the comedian revealed that he had left for Alibag after the episode's release, joking that he knew another controversy was on its way.
He urged people to be kind to Sakshi despite the memes circulating online.
"'Man hater' Sakshi Jha ke bahut saare memes ban rahe hain, but request hai mere 'mens' se, just be kind to her," he said.
Samay noted that India's Got Latent is a platform where contestants are encouraged to express themselves freely, and added that performing on the stage is not easy. While he had no issue with jokes being made in good humour, he appealed to people not to troll Sakshi to the point where it became insensitive.
"Remember, waha par bhi ek insaan hai (there is a human being at the receiving end)," he said.
He also encouraged his followers to send Sakshi love instead of hate, saying it would show that "mens are amazing people too." Samay added that Sakshi's appearance played a significant role in making the latest episode successful.
In another Instagram Story, he tagged Sakshi Jha and wrote, "Sending you lots of love from 'mens'."
