Samay Raina announces global tour, marks return after controversy
text_fieldsAfter months of low-profile appearances following the India’s Got Latent controversy, comedian Samay Raina has made a striking return to social media — this time with a major announcement.
Raina shared a video on Instagram announcing his upcoming stand-up tour across Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
The post marks his return to the Instagram main feed, following earlier statements shared only through his stories in response to the February controversy.
The video opens with a reflective voiceover echoing past criticism: "People who buy tickets to listen to all this stuff… they sit and clap for this, whatever this is. I do not know if these are even jokes."
It then cuts to highlights from his successful Unfiltered by Samay Raina tour across North America, showcasing full houses in cities like Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Newark, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, and Kitchener. A particularly heartwarming moment features Raina receiving a video call from his parents mid-performance — when they ask who he’s with, he turns the camera to reveal a roaring crowd.
The video concludes with the reveal of his next international tour, signaling a powerful comeback.
Celebrities and peers flooded the comments with support. Rapper Badshah reacted with “Baawe,” while fellow comedian Apoorva Mukhija, also caught in the same controversy, commented “LEGEND.” India’s Got Talent panelist Balraj Singh Ghai wrote, “Bro's success is my success. Love you mere Bhai.”
For context, the backlash began earlier this year after a clip from India’s Got Latent went viral. The video featured Ranveer Allahbadia making controversial remarks about parents and sex, prompting social media outrage and police complaints against Ranveer, Samay Raina, and others associated with the show.
Despite the criticism, Raina’s recent success and fan reception signal a strong and determined return to the stage.