2025 proved to be a turbulent year for Indian digital culture, with a number of prominent influencers and entertainers finding themselves at the center of public controversy.
Several prominent figures – including comedian Samaya Raina, podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, political satirist Kunal Kamra and social media influencer Apoorva Mukhija, known as The Rebel Kid – have been embroiled in legal queries and social media backlash that has sparked widespread debate across the political, legal and cultural spheres. The controversies ranged from alleged obscenities and offensive content to bitter disputes over free speech and public decency.
Samay Raina: Controversy and Comeback
Comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina has been one of the most prominent figures caught up in the digital controversies of 2025. He is best known as the host of India’s Got Latent, a YouTube talent and comedy show that combines various acts with stand-alone segments.
In February 2025, an episode of the show sparked widespread public outrage after guest judge Ranveer Allahbadia asked a contestant an explicit and highly inappropriate question about their parents’ intimate lives, which many viewers found offensive and vulgar.
This prompted police complaints, FIRs and official scrutiny by both the Maharashtra Cyber Cell and the National Commission for Women. Raina, along with other participants, was called in for questioning and eventually decided to keep all episodes of India’s Got Latent private on his channel in response to the backlash and the ongoing legal process.
Apoorva Mukhija (The Rebel Kid): Legal Scrutiny and Impact on Social Media
Apoorva Mukhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, was another influencer who hit one of the major social media controversies of 2025. With a sizable Instagram following and a reputation for vlogs and candid stories, Mukhija became widely discussed after appearing on India’s Got Latent along with other creators during a controversial episode that drew police complaints.
She was questioned by the authorities about the remarks on the show and she recorded her statement with the Mumbai police as part of an ongoing investigation into whether the language used in the program crossed legal boundaries. Amid the backlash, Mukhija deleted all posts from her Instagram profile, a move widely interpreted as a response to intense public and media attention.
Kunal Kamra: Satire and Political Suppression
Stand-up comedian and political commentator Kunal Kamra also found himself in controversy during 2025, albeit in a vastly different context from India’s Got Latent controversy.
Known for his sharp satirical views on politics and public figures, Kamra drew strong reactions from the character’s supporters, with detractors claiming that his comedic commentary crossed the line into slander and provocation.
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The dispute escalated when the venue where Kamra appeared was vandalized, leading to police involvement and legal disputes. Kamra defended his work as legitimate political satire, arguing that comedians should be able to criticize public officials without fear of intimidation.
The incident sparked wider discussions about the role of satire in public discourse and the extent to which artists can criticize political figures without repercussions. Kamra’s supporters argued that satire is an essential part of democratic expression and that comedians serve as necessary voices in society by challenging power structures.
Ranveer Allahbadia: Backlash over obscene remarks
Ranveer Allahbadia, better known to many as BeerBiceps, faced perhaps the most intense backlash among influencers in 2025 after his appearance on India’s Got Latent.
Allahbadia has established himself as a popular podcaster and content creator with a large following over the years, but his career faced a rare challenge when a question he asked on the show was widely criticized as inappropriate and offensive.
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The question, which referred to an explicit scenario involving the contestant’s parents, quickly spread on social media and drew condemnation from viewers, public figures and politicians, with some calling for legal action and greater regulation of content.
FIRs were registered against Allahbadia, Raina and others associated with the episode for allegedly using abusive and vulgar language, prompting police investigations by authorities in both Mumbai and Assam. This was also noticed by the National Commission for Women, which convened Allahbadia and other stakeholders to address concerns about the content.
