Wed Feb 12 11:39:04 UTC 2025: ## Vir Das Defends New Media Amidst Ranveer Allahbadia Backlash
**MUMBAI** – Comedian Vir Das has weighed in on the controversy surrounding YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia (“BeerBiceps”), criticizing mainstream media for its focus on the incident. Allahbadia recently apologized for a question he posed on the show *India’s Got Latent*, asking a contestant whether they would prefer to watch their parents have sex or participate once to end it. This prompted significant public backlash and legal scrutiny.
In an Instagram story, Das argued that while the debate over the appropriateness of Allahbadia’s question is valid, the mainstream media’s intense focus on the incident reveals a larger issue. He suggested that declining mainstream media outlets are targeting the more successful and impactful new media platforms like Allahbadia’s, which reach significantly larger audiences at a fraction of the cost.
Das called for a parallel discussion on journalistic ethics, urging a critical examination of the quality of news coverage, the questions being asked, and who is being interviewed. He emphasized that artists should be accountable for their work, but the current situation highlights a potential bias in media coverage against newer, rapidly growing platforms. Allahbadia himself issued a public apology, stating his comment was inappropriate and not intended as comedy.
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