Comedian Tanmay Bhat of AIB fame has again found himself in controversy after his decade-old tweets resurfaced on the internet.
Tanmay Bhat controversy
Tanmay Bhat has recently found himself at the ire-end of netizens after his decade-old tweets surfaced. The latest to face the brunt and take action is Kotak Bank who pulled down their 811 campaign starring creators Tanmay Bhat and Samay Raina.
According to reports, days after launching the new ad campaign Kotak Bank apologized for associating with the popular All India Bakchod (AIB) comedian and announced the removal of their 811 campaign.
“We, at Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. do not support or endorse the views of actors made in their personal capacity that harm or offend any individual or group. We have withdrawn the campaign,” read a tweet on their official handle.
We, at Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. do not support or endorse the views of actors made in their personal capacity that harm or offend any individual or group. We have withdrawn the campaign.
— Kotak 811 (@kotak811) February 12, 2023
Twitter backlash
This comes after backlash from a section of social media. Several users shared screenshots of Bhat’s previous tweets and demanded the bank cancel the ad campaign.
I am a customer of your bank but the fact that you have hired a hinduphobic, woman and child abuser Tanmay Bhat for a campaign is making me consider closing my account. Discontinue the association with him and apologise? pic.twitter.com/W57pdic4jf
— Monica Verma (@TrulyMonica) February 12, 2023
.@udaykotak Sir @KotakBankLtd seriously, you couldn't find anyone else for your brand endorsement except him?? Are we to understand that he reflects your brand values? He's been accused of sexual harassment by so many women.
Definitely expected better from you ? pic.twitter.com/3ihJRD4KPI— Akancha Srivastava (@AkanchaS) February 11, 2023
If you are a Ganesh Bhakt and a customer of @KotakBankLtd, do send emails to the senior management including @udaykotak asking them WHY are they hiring this Hindu-hater scum Tanmay Bhatt who has ‘joked’ about r@ping babies and who had enabled sexual harassment in the past. pic.twitter.com/Ce6pWtxkIH
— Shefali Vaidya. ?? (@ShefVaidya) February 11, 2023
Meanwhile, reacting to the news, comedian Kunal Kamra took to Twitter to show his support for Bhatt and called it a “sad day for comedy world over”.
He wrote in his tweet, “I can’t believe no comedians are siding with victim Tanmay Bhatt he has faced so many atrocities in life & still counting. Sad day for comedy world over… Shame on Indian comedy scene.”
I can’t believe no comedians are siding with victim Tanmay Bhatt he has faced so many atrocities in life & still counting. Sad day for comedy world over…
Shame on indian comedy scene https://t.co/o5CVrxe5Ui— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) February 14, 2023
Well, Kunal’s statement wasn’t supported either. He too faced some backlash.
Tanmay Bhat has ‘faced atrocities’? In any other country, he would be in jail for making child r@pe jokes! I’m India he gets to make loads of moolah AND whine about how depressed he is! And gets other like-minded creeps like @kunalkamra88 to endorse those sick child r@pe jokes! https://t.co/Eq1cjNArrL
— Shefali Vaidya. ?? (@ShefVaidya) February 14, 2023
Therefore, Kunal had to reply.
Ma’am this. https://t.co/iwa0WkKOEw pic.twitter.com/Qo5XAdQdd9
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) February 14, 2023
Shame on you Kotak…
very sad your taking livelihood away from marginalised comedian tanmay bhatt https://t.co/o5CVrxe5Ui— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) February 13, 2023
This is not the first time that Tanmay has been involved in a controversy. During the #MeToo movement some years ago, it was alleged that he failed to take action after complaints were made against a collaborator at the now-vanished AIB comedy collective. Before that, AIB had faced FIRs for their controversial roast of actors Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. He has also been criticized for making fun of Lata Mangeshkar, and cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar.
