Comedian Jaspreet Singh recently ignited controversy with a remark about Kerala on the show ‘India’s Got Latent.’ Serving as a judge alongside Apoorva Mukhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, Ashish Chanchlani, and host Samay Raina, Singh’s comment has been labeled as offensive and culturally insensitive.
During the episode, a contestant mentioned her disinterest in politics and admitted to never voting. In response, Singh, adopting an accent, remarked, “Kerala saar. 100% literacy saar.” This statement, perceived as mocking Kerala’s literacy achievements, quickly went viral on social media platforms.
A clip of the incident shared on X (formerly Twitter) garnered over 4 million views within two days. Users expressed their displeasure, with comments such as, “North Indian Saar, We don’t have content Saar, We remake movies from Kerala Saar,” and “What’s funny is someone from a state with low literacy making fun of a state which has 100% literacy.” Many criticized Singh for perpetuating stereotypes and undermining Kerala’s educational accomplishments.
This controversy follows closely on the heels of another incident from the same episode, where Ranveer Allahbadia faced backlash for posing an inappropriate question to a contestant. The episode has since been removed from YouTube due to the mounting criticisms.
Jaspreet Singh, known for his observational humor, has previously emphasized the importance of addressing offensive content through criticism rather than violence. In a 2022 interview, he stated, “If a joke is offensive to an audience, it should be criticized, but physical violence cannot be an answer.”
Despite this stance, Singh’s recent comment has led to significant backlash. His past videos on Instagram have been inundated with critical remarks, with users highlighting the perceived insensitivity of his joke.
This incident has sparked a broader discussion on the boundaries of comedy and the responsibility of comedians to be culturally sensitive. While humor often involves pushing boundaries, many argue that it should not come at the expense of mocking a community’s achievements or perpetuating negative stereotypes.
As the debate continues, it serves as a reminder of the fine line comedians must tread between humor and respect, especially in a diverse and multicultural society.
