Social media has been abuzz after shocking details of rampant sexual harassment by comedians was made public. Victims outed one Utsav Chakraborty who used to work with All India Bakchod (AIB), sexually harassed several women by sending unsolicited obscene pictures. In a domino effect, other victims recounted their harrowing experiences too, not just with Utsav both other comedians and journalists too.
With the rightful outrage that these revelations created, while most of the leftists maintained a stoic silence, many are now demanding that Amazon and YouTube remove content from AIB. This demand peaked after AIB released a statement apologising for ‘messing up’. They admitted that they came to know of Utsav’s transgressions after he quit AIB but even after knowing, they continued to work with Utsav on a freelance basis.
Many on Twitter demanded that Amazon remove AIB content from their Amazon Prime platform and terminate them from ‘Comicstaan’ which is a talent hunt nine-episode series that includes seven Indian comedians in search of a fresh and talented Indian stand-up comedian. The panel of judges includes Tanmay Bhatt, one of the founders of AIB and the one who admitted that he knew of Utsav’s sexual harassment of women.
Just not me, there will be mass revoking of the membership of amazon and as well as hotstar. @PrimeVideo @amazonIN @hotstartweets @HotstarPremium
— Swati ? (@swati2230) October 5, 2018
It’s shame that @amazonIN @PrimeVideo And @hotstartweets are still giving platform to such sexual harassers #SayNoToAIBalatkaris https://t.co/UQVagHEELc
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) October 5, 2018
Hi @amazonprimenow @amazonIN @hotstartweets will revoke my prime memberships if you continue to give work to the people who knew about harassment of women and did nothing. @AllIndiaBakchod https://t.co/gV4Wpl0cJk
— अंकित जैन (@indiantweeter) October 5, 2018
Hello @PrimeVideo @amazonIN remove #AIBalatkaris videos and disassociate with AIB pic.twitter.com/7GTIgjEG3X
— Hardik (@Humor_Silly) October 5, 2018
Others said that the AIB apology was a hogwash and an attempt to shift blame. That Amazon on YouTube should take a stand against such predatory behaviour.
Thrust on ‘We came to know after Utsav left’ is aimed at deflecting blame. Won’t work this time. Dear @amazon, @hotstartweets & @YouTube, high time u take stand and remove content of these sex predators from ur platforms. https://t.co/13c8uBM9wk
— Rahul Kaushik (@kaushkrahul) October 5, 2018
Some pointed out that Netflix took a similar stand after revelations of sexual harassment against Kevin Spacey. They wondered if Amazon and YouTube would follow suit after the allegations against Utsav Chakraborty.
@PrimeVideo Your competitor @netflix had fired Kevin Spacey from #HouseOfCards after his involvement in such cases. Are you going to do the same with AIB??? https://t.co/rFa0hE71c3
— Why So Serious? (@imgujral) October 5, 2018
It remains to be seen how Amazon or YouTube react. As the anger mounts, it might become difficult for the companies to maintain silence.
