Stand-up comedian Pranit More issued a second public apology Saturday after facing widespread criticism over a joke regarding the cost of biryani [1, 2].
The controversy centers on social expectations and gender dynamics, as the remark was interpreted as implying a woman owed him a favor for spending money on a date.
More broke his silence via a video message posted to his official Instagram account [3, 4]. In the recording, he addressed the backlash following a joke involving a plate of chicken biryani that cost Rs 370 [1, 5]. The comedian said he "got carried away" during the performance [1].
While the comedian had previously addressed the situation, this second apology specifically targeted his failure to immediately correct or object to the nature of the comment. More said his lack of objection to the comment was a "lapse in judgment" [2, 4].
The joke sparked significant anger across social media platforms, with critics arguing that the premise of the humor was problematic. Addressing the volume of criticism, More said, "I deserve this hate" [2, 4].
Indian entertainment news outlets reported that the comedian is attempting to take full responsibility for the incident [3, 4]. The fallout highlights the increasing scrutiny of stand-up comedy content in India, where jokes regarding interpersonal relationships, and social transactions are frequently analyzed for problematic undertones.
“"I deserve this hate"”
This incident reflects a growing trend in the Indian comedy circuit where performers face severe public accountability for jokes perceived as sexist or entitled. By explicitly stating he 'deserves' the backlash, More is attempting to mitigate professional damage through a strategy of total concession rather than defending the artistic merit of the joke.
