Following the recent backlash over Pranit More’s stand-up comedy show, a fresh controversy has erupted online. A woman from the audience at the show, now identified as Dr Sejal Pawar, is being criticised on the internet for her comments about a male cadaver.
Following the backlash, she issued a public apology and took accountability for her actions. She said that she understood why people were upset with her comments and added that it was her first time attending a comedy show. Pawar said it was a learning experience for her and that it was not her intention to disrespect anyone.
The controversy first erupted when a clip from Pranit More’s stand-up show was widely circulated on social media. A person identified as Himanshu Jangra from the audience at More’s show made controversial remarks during his interaction with the comedian.
When asked by More to share his experience, Himanshu spoke about a date he had gone on, during which he reportedly paid Rs. 370 for a biryani he shared with a female friend.
He went on to say that while dropping her back home, he expected physical intimacy in return for the money he had spent.
“Maine kaha ki Rs. 370 lage hain to use to wasool to karunga hi (I told her that since I spent Rs. 370, I would make sure I got my money’s worth),” Himanshu said.
The exchange between the comedian and Himanshu triggered a massive backlash, with several netizens calling it cheap, disgusting and regressive. The controversy has led to discussions on how modern dating culture is perceived by some men.
Social media personalities Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila and Sakshi Shivdasani took to Instagram to speak about the incident, calling Pranit More’s behaviour disgusting and gross. They criticised him for allegedly enabling sexist behaviour for the sake of viral content.
Although Pranit More has taken down the controversial video, many social media users have reposted it, questioning misogyny in comedy and demanding greater accountability from content creators.
While stand-up comedians continue to make racist and sexist remarks during some of their shows, the backlash has continued to grow. Even as comedians such as Samay Raina and Pranit More make jokes on sensitive topics, concerns are being raised about the lines being blurred between reality and comedy.