LIVE:
Comedian Vir Das issues clarification following his 'I Come From 2 India' Monologue
Vir Das, comedian, has sparked outrage on social media for a monologue he presented as part of a performance in the United States, with many accusing him of "disrespecting India."
He posted a video titled "I come from two Indias" to YouTube on Monday. The monologue in the video is from a recent performance at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Image Source: Instagram
The video of Vir Das which has drawn an outrage among the netizens highlights the most important issues India is currently facing.
The short monologue covered a wide range of not so talked about subjects, from the PM Cares fund to cricket to women's safety in India, including the fight against Covid-19, rape cases, a crackdown on comedians, and farmer protests.
However, the comedian was met with a barrage of criticism online. His powerful monologue had little impact on the society he was speaking about. Indeed, Twitter is awash with threats, abuse, and outrage in response to this stand-up routine.
Vir Das took to Twitter and posted a note, stating that he wanted to serve as a reminder that the country, despite its problems, was "great."
Image Source: Instagram
The statement shared by Vir Das read as, "The video is a satire about the duality of two very separate India''s that do different things. Like any nation has light and dark, good and evil within it. None of this is a secret. The video appeals for us to never forget that we are great. To never stop focusing on what makes us great.
ALSO READ: Ankita Lokhande hosts bachelorette party with her girl-gang; see pictures
"It ends in a gigantic patriotic round of applause for a country we all love, believe in, and are proud of. That there is more to our country than the headlines, a deep beauty. That's the point of the video and the reason for the applause," he further wrote.
Image Source: Instagram
He also stated "Please do not be fooled by edited snippets. People cheer for India with hope, not hate. People clap for India with respect, not malice. You cannot sell tickets, earn applause, or represent a great people with negativity, only with pride. I take pride in my country, and I carry that pride across the world.”
To make his point clear Vir Das concluded his statement with "To me, a room full of people anywhere in the world, giving India an ovation is pure love. I ask of you, the same thing I asked of that audience...to focus on the light, remember our greatness, and spread the love"
View this post on Instagram
