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‘Maybe my time is bad, but I am time’: ‘Oversmart’ Samay Raina’s Canada joke draws Supreme Court’s ire

Without directly naming Samay Raina, Justice Surya Kant criticised the younger generation for being "oversmart" and unaware of the Supreme Court's jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court Monday directed social media influencers, including Samay Raina, to display apology on their channels. (Source: Instagram)

The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition filed by podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, Monday took strong exception to comedian Samay Raina’s remarks about the India’s Got Latent controversy during his live show in Canada. Both YouTubers faced severe backlash after a video from Raina’s YouTube show went viral, leading to multiple FIRs across different cities.

Here are five takeaways from the unfolding legal issue:

📌 Supreme Court’s rebuke to young content creators: Without directly naming Samay Raina, Justice Surya Kant criticised the younger generation for being “oversmart” and unaware of the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction. The court noted, “One of them went to Canada and spoke about all of this… they don’t know what can be done.” The bench, however, acknowledged their age, stating, “We don’t want to (act), because they are young, we understand.”

📌 Samay Raina’s Canada show adds fuel to fire: During his Edmonton show, Raina made light of the controversy, joking that ticket sales were helping pay his legal fees. A viral Facebook post from an attendee described how Raina, despite visible stress, kept the audience engaged. He quipped, “At moments where I could say something really funny, just remember BeerBiceps, brother.” Raina ended the show with a play on his name: “Maybe my time is bad, but remember—I am the time.”

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📌 Multiple FIRs and legal fallout: The controversy began when Ranveer Allahbadia, aka BeerBiceps, made crass remarks about parents and sex on India’s Got Latent, sparking outrage and legal complaints. FIRs were filed against him, Raina, and fellow YouTubers such as Ashish Chanchlani and Jaspreet Singh. The backlash reached Parliament, triggering discussions on content regulation.

Also Read | ‘Using filthy language is not talent’: What Supreme Court said lifting ban on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast

📌 YouTube show taken down, apologies issued: Facing mounting pressure, Raina removed all India’s Got Latent videos from his YouTube channel and assured full cooperation with authorities. Allahbadia also posted a public apology, admitting his comments were “not just inappropriate but also not even funny.”

📌 SC allows Allahbadia’s podcast to resume—with conditions: Initially, the court restrained Allahbadia from hosting any shows. However, on Monday, it allowed him to resume The Ranveer Show, provided he guarantees that future content will adhere to “standards of morality and decency.” The Centre has been asked to consider new guidelines for regulating digital content in response to the controversy.

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