In our patriarchal society, one often hears misogynistic and sexist comments at regular intervals about women from music composers and young stand-up comedians. After a young man’s controversial “Rs 370 biryani” remark at Pranit More’s show set social media ablaze, a 2024 rape “joke” by young stand-up comedian Madhur Virli has resurfaced and gone viral. What is striking, however, is that the video took nearly two years to attract widespread scrutiny. The clip has predictably triggered massive social media blowback. Just think back to early 2025, when stand-up comedian, YouTuber, and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia triggered a nationwide controversy after making explicit and widely condemned remarks on the YouTube comedy panel show India’s Got Latent.

Much contemporary stand-up seeks a reflexive reaction through shock and profanity. In the rape “joke’’ clip, Virli claims that in nine out of ten rape cases, the crime involves only sexual assault, while in one case the victim is murdered afterwards. He then goes on to suggest that if a victim were to ask the perpetrator about “cuddling” after the assault, it could provoke him into stabbing her. Such remarks strike at the very core of our collective moral and emotional........

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