YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia has received some relief, with the Supreme Court allowing him to resume uploading his podcasts. Yet, the broader creator economy continues to feel the aftershocks of his controversial remarks on the India’s Got Latent show.
According to a report by Moneycontrol, several influencers have experienced a steep drop in their rates, while some have even seen brand deals fall apart. “The drop is substantial—rates have declined by more than 50 per cent in some cases. In fact, some influencers are no longer even being considered. The situation has become so dire that there’s often nothing left to renegotiate—deals are just vanishing, even for influencers who had no connection to the controversy,” said Sumon K Chakrabarti, co-founder and CEO of ad agency Buffalo Soldiers.
Lifestyle and travel influencer Shivaditya Barjatya added that rates have dropped by around 5–10 percent for many creators. “A macro influencer who earlier charged around Rs 2.5 lakh has seen a dip of about 5–7 per cent post the controversy involving Ranveer Allahbadia and India’s Got Latent. Brands are now extremely cautious. It’s especially affected top-tier influencers—what once impressed brands is now leading to greater scrutiny,” he said.
Even Samay Raina, host of the show, faced consequences. He reportedly lost a brand deal with a company in the energy drink space, which was about to be finalised before it was abruptly called off amid the controversy. The ripple effects have extended further, creating an atmosphere of caution in the content space. “There’s a growing sense of restraint in the way we choose our words and present ourselves,” said influencer Ankita Rai, who added that several creators she knows have also lost brand partnerships as a result.
Comedian Harsh Gujral, too, recently revealed that he had to pull down two episodes of his new show Escape Room due to fears of potential backlash. “I’m just scared now,” he admitted during a live performance.
So, what exactly is the India’s Got Latent controversy?
It began last month when Ranveer Allahbadia faced widespread criticism for making a crude and inappropriate remark during a members-only episode of Samay Raina’s YouTube show. In the episode, Ranveer asked a contestant, “Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once and stop it forever?” The remark was quickly labelled offensive and derogatory by viewers, sparking a major backlash across social media. Ranveer later issued a video apology, though the outrage continued to grow.
Last week, Ranveer and fellow influencer Apoorva Mukhija appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW), where they were questioned for several hours before submitting written apologies.