The online streaming platform Hostar, which is also the partner of popular TV show Koffee With Karan, has pulled down the episode featuring Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya and upper order batsman KL Rahul.
The decision to pull down the episode featuring the Indian cricketers was probably taken after the outrage on social media regarding Hardik Pandya’s sexist remark.
Star World, the channel that broadcast the talk show, has also removed the promo and photos of the episode from its official social media handles.
During the talk show, when Karan Johar asked Pandya why he doesn’t asks the names of the women he meets at nightclubs, the all-rounder replied, “I like to watch and observe how they move. I’m little from the black side so I need to see how they move.”
Though Rahul, the Kings XI Punjab’s wicket-keeper batsman, refrained from saying anything inappropriate during the episode, he has been accused of playing along.
After both the cricketers were widely slammed by the fans, as “crass, racist, sexist and cringe-worthy”, Pandya issued a public apology on Twitter.
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) January 9, 2019
“After reflecting on my comments on Koffee with Karan, I would like to apologise to everyone concerned who I may have hurt in any way. Honestly, I got a bit carried away with the nature of the show. In no way did I mean to disrespect or hurt anyone’s sentiments. Respect,” Pandya wrote from his official Twitter handle.
Meanwhile, Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Friday said that the team India does not support the views expressed by Pandya and Rahul.
Speaking about their remark Kohli said that it was “purely individual views”.
“I can definitely say that as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers we definitely don’t align with those views and those are purely individual views,” Virat Kohli added.