On his birthday, Samay Raina issues apology over India’s Got Latent disability joke

New Delhi: Stand-up comedian Samay Raina has apologised for jokes made about people with disabilities on his YouTube show India’s Got Latent, saying he intends to be more considerate going forward.

“Today is my birthday. And, instead of celebrating just myself, I want to use this day, the most special day of the year for me, to apologise to the people with disabilities,” Raina wrote on Instagram Stories.

He added, “We, Samay Raina, Vipul Goyal, Sonali Thakkar, Nishant Tanwar, Balraj Ghai, deeply regret the pain caused due to our show. Going forward, we will be more mindful and do our best to spread awareness about the challenges faced by the community. Your strength inspires us to grow. With respect and gratitude.”

Raina also shared a photograph with Karn Shah, who has a physical disability and had featured in the India’s Got Latent episode where the controversial jokes were made. Shah later wrote, “The man who turned pity into punchlines. Some teach comedy. He taught equality. Thank you, Samay Raina, for making inclusivity real.”

Another participant, Kushal Bhanushali, also expressed support, writing, “I have learnt so much from you and my respect for you only grows each day for how you have contributed to the scene. I am just grateful to have someone like you in my life. You are special so never change. Happy birthday, Samay bhaiya.”

Raina’s apology has generated extensive discussion online, particularly on Reddit, where users reacted with both humour and scepticism. One comment read, “SC held him at gunpoint while writing this,” while another quipped, “Supreme Court-sponsored birthday greetings.”

Some defended the comedian, pointing out that participants had consented to the jokes. “They only made fun of the disabled after consent. Constantly asked ‘are you okay with this?’ And the disabled people also wanted to be roasted,” one user wrote.

Others expressed concern that comedians were being pressured into apologies for content intended as satire. One Redditor commented, “It’s sad watching a comedian apologise for jokes… this post makes it feel like they committed some cardinal sin against the community, which is completely untrue.”

Online interest in Samay Raina surged on October 26, coinciding with his birthday and the apology, as discussions around humour, consent, and sensitivity in comedy resurfaced.