Comedy group AIB has said it has decided to de-list every video featuring Utsav Chakraborty, a former member who has been accused of sexual harassment by women on social media.
The company has said the allegations against Chakraborty on social media described a pattern of behaviour that was unacceptable.
In a statement posted on Twitter, AIB said, “We are also aware that by extending safe working spaces and a collaborative environment to people like Utsav, we have contributed towards a toxic environment that can be scary and unsafe for women. And so we are sorry for any part we may have played in the tolerance or furthering of such behaviour.”
“If these allegations result in any investigation, the team at AIB would be willing to cooperate and extend full support to it. Also, pending the result of any such investigation, we are immediately delisting every single video on our channels that feature Utsav.”
Statement pic.twitter.com/eLpthXifwf
— All India Bakchod (@AllIndiaBakchod) October 4, 2018
The group said Utsav never worked as a head writer and was no longer a part of the organisation.
The allegations came to light as part of a Twitter thread about the way Indian men behaved onboard a cruise liner. It led a woman to allege that Chakraborty had sent unsolicited pictures of private parts to women and harassed girls, including minors, through social media platforms.
A woman came forward with a story about the person sending his unsolicited nude pictures, opening a floodgate of similar accusations against the writer-YouTuber.
A post by Twitter handle @AGirlOfHerWords read: “I want everyone to know @Wootsaw (Chakraborty) is a piece of sh*t. He sent me a d**k pic, was creepy, then cried saying I’ll ruin his career if I tell others. I told two of the most influential men in comedy in India. Nothing happened. Let me tell you what else he has done with others.”
Mumbai Police took note of the incident and replied to the tweet by the woman, saying, We have followed you. Request you to inbox your number. We will look into this on priority.
Prominent stand-up comedians such as Varun Grover, Aditi Mittal and Kaneez Surka have called out the person.
Comedian Abhishek Upmanyu said “everything is true. And also that a lot of people knew and still worked with him.”
He said when he got to know that Utsav had sent his explicit images, he called him out on their Facebook group and threatened to out him.
“We kicked him out of the group and also distanced ourselves from him,” Upmanyu said narrating the incident on Twitter.
He has brought shame to the entire industry. This is one of the most privileged jobs in the country to the point that HE gets to exploit feminism and earn money from it, while sending dic pics. Humari industry ke woke log dic bhejte hain toh Bakio ka pata ni kya haal hoga.
— Abhishek Upmanyu (@AbhiUpmanyu) October 4, 2018
Comedian Kunal Kamra said, “We as a scene, specifically the men here, need to reexamine everything right now. I myself am guilty of being part of a culture where we haven’t listened to the women. And this is the wake up call we need We are listening. And we believe you.”
We as a scene, specifically the men here, need to reexamine everything right now. I myself am guilty of being part of a culture where we haven’t listened to the women. And this is the wake up call we need.
We are listening.
And we believe you.— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) October 4, 2018
Chakraborty, in a statement issued on his Twitter page, said issues are more complicated than they seem.
“I don’t know what to say here and fight back (or even if I should). Literally everyone I know has turned against me and I don’t blame them for that. But the whole thing is far more complicated than it appears.
To be honest, from all accounts, I’ve been a piece of shit. And I will try to do everything I can work past that. There was no excuse. I know inconsiderate and entitled. Even in this narrative, when this whole thing started, I kept looking at myself as the victim.
— Utsav (@Wootsaw) October 4, 2018
“I am not discrediting anyone. It’s not my place to. But this whole thing needs a lot of patience. And an incredible amount of context. Which I will gove. Hopefully sooner than later,” he wrote.
How can I be a misogynist when I call it out constantly? Even if I was entitled I would think that life has been unfair to me, it gave me a disease without a cure. And I wouldn’t give it a second thought. I would go from one painkiller haze to another and keep messaging.
— Utsav (@Wootsaw) October 4, 2018
Comedienne Mallika Dua tweeted: “I feel sick and scared and angry and ashamed. Where the hell do men get this audacity from? Oh yes from society.”
I feel sick and scared and angry and ashamed. Where the hell do men get this audacity from? Oh yes from society. #NotMyCommunity @AGirlOfHerWords
— Mallika Dua (@MallikaDua) October 4, 2018
Last year, Arunabh Kumar of web entertainment firm The Viral Fever (TVF) was named for allegedly causing sexual harassment to unidentified women.
(With inputs from agencies)