Things are not going well for the AIB. It has come out with a statement against the allegations doing the rounds against AIB and its co-founder and CEO, Tanmay Bhatt. The statement reads that Tanmay Bhatt is stepping away from AIB, which means he will not be involved with the day to day functioning of the group. The statement further adds that it has taken cognizance of the allegations against Gursimran Khamba too and has decided to send him on temporary leave. Through its statement, AIB also clarified that it strongly believes that they will be able to create a gender sensitive work space in the future under Ashish Shakya and Rohan Joshi.
Statement pic.twitter.com/KR5tM2sYuX
— All India Bakchod (@AllIndiaBakchod) October 8, 2018
It all started when a Twitter user accused one of AIB’s team member, Utsav Chakraborty, of sexually harassing her.
I want everyone to know @Wootsaw is a piece of shit. He sent me a dick 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.
— Mahima Kukreja ??✊? (@AGirlOfHerWords) October 4, 2018
Hey Utsav. How many girls have you harassed you vile man. These messages for a young girl I know. pic.twitter.com/fXGWpbqfqf
— Mahima Kukreja ??✊? (@AGirlOfHerWords) October 4, 2018
Hey Utsav. You give your number and slide into DMs of literal children. Like 17 year old girls? You’re a creep of another level. pic.twitter.com/sjdJ5uf8dg
— Mahima Kukreja ??✊? (@AGirlOfHerWords) October 4, 2018
I’m receiving DMs from other girls telling me their stories. What a fucking creep are you @Wootsaw https://t.co/N83FpCtsAf
— Mahima Kukreja ??✊? (@AGirlOfHerWords) October 4, 2018
It turned out Mahima was not the only victim as many other girls came out to expose the habitual predatory behavior of Utsav.
Another woman, who wished to remain anonymous, made serious allegations of inappropriate behavior against AIB’s co-founder, Gursimran Khamba.
Gursimran Khamba from @AllIndiaBakchod. The survivor wishes to stay anonymous. #MeToo #TimesUp #BelieveHer pic.twitter.com/B9PTYJT8LE
— hk {on a hiatus} (@PedestrianPoet) October 8, 2018
Just one tweet was enough to open a can of worms, which completely exposed Utsav and the entire AIB team including Gursimran Khamba, with this the pathetic and misogynist mentality of the entire AIB team also came out in the limelight. Twitter user, Mahima Kukreja, claimed that she had informed AIB about Utsav’s behaviour and made them aware of all the accusations against him, but they did nothing about it and continued to employ him.
Though this is bizarre and shocking, this is not entirely unexpected from AIB. If one of their co-founders can post lecherous tweets supporting pedophilia, one can very well imagine the ideals their employees subscribe to. Their behavior also hints at why the AIB team continued nurturing Utsav and the likes of him. Gursimran Khamba too is alleged to have committed such acts along similar lines with another female.
Great now do the same against this paedophile. #AIBalatkaris pic.twitter.com/cALEpoOeRG
— Smoking sKills (@SmokingSkills_) October 4, 2018
Jaisa co-founder wesi uski team….. pic.twitter.com/kvsKO6qUOS
— मिठाई वाला जेक स्पेरो (@fizooliyat) October 4, 2018
Twitter users have dug out old tweets of AIB and their members, from Tanmay to Gursimran Khamba the tweets were downright crass and sexist, often making a mockery of crimes like rape and pedophilia. In some of their earlier podcasts, of which many have now been pulled down, they used to objectify women routinely. Some of the most well-known and well respected women achievers of the country were not spared, so one can only imagine the sort of respect they have for other women.
Did you forget the podcast you did with @thetanmay and other AIB members where you all were talking about Jerking off to Saina nehwal pics and commenting on Sania Mirza's assets? You and every of you is responsible for normalizing creepy behavior towards women on Internet https://t.co/0zMgzzLS1q
— Squint Neon (@squintneon) October 5, 2018
Woke feminist Tanmay Bhat and Khamba proclaiming "bar dancer" Manyata Dutt to be a slut in their Podcast(17). May be it's fine for 'woke' people as her husband is a criminal. pic.twitter.com/YeMhzkO3W9
— # (@user_darth) October 5, 2018
Here are some Tweets (and some pictures of deleted tweets) which gives an insight into their pathetic mentality.
Jaisa co-founder wesi uski team….. pic.twitter.com/kvsKO6qUOS
— मिठाई वाला जेक स्पेरो (@fizooliyat) October 4, 2018
YES EVERYONE PICKING UP ON THAT, I WAS SUGGESTING THAT IF SEX WASN'T STIGMATISED, RAPE WOULD BE FUCKING AWESOME & A TOTAL PARTY FOR EVERYONE
— Rohan (@mojorojo) March 13, 2012
Have discovered Snapchat. Dick pics for everybody!!!
— Rohan (@mojorojo) May 4, 2014
No wonder why AIB is full of dicks and perverts #AIBalatkaris pic.twitter.com/zOfvNNvhyj
— Troll Hub (@tejasarcasm) October 4, 2018
Hey can we all tag @sonamakapoor and tweet this.??
"Maybe it's just specific dresses, but Sonam Kapoor's tits look like those longish Holi water balloons ~ @gkhamba of AIB" pic.twitter.com/WgV7k2Fxpc
— Ninja Chacha-HMP ✊ (@chacha_ninja) October 4, 2018
Khamba wants to masturbate on Breast cancer awareness video
Rohan Tweets disgusting things about Hindu Gods
Tanmay wants to have sex with Sushma swarajThats #AIBalatkaris for you pic.twitter.com/Grugm7ns99
— Rishi Bagree ?? (@rishibagree) October 4, 2018
Irony is that the very same team from AIB once conducted a workshop on character development.
The irony is strong in this one when @AllIndiaBakchod perverts conducts Character Development workshop at @IIMAhmedabad ?? pic.twitter.com/PoGtdwQrPI
— Rishi Bagree ?? (@rishibagree) October 5, 2018
The very same AIB team in its YouTube videos lectured people on feminism, gender equality and women empowerment but in reality they were completely different from their online/onstage personas. They were wolves hiding in sheep’s skin. Sexual molesters hiding behind the mask of feminism. On social media, AIB often talked about women rights but in reality they never practiced it. They even made a video titled ‘harassment through ages’ and in real life their team members are found to be perpetrators of sexual harassment. People should remember that Indian comedy is nothing different than any other industry and no matter how progressive these people claim themselves to be the world is full of hypocrites. AIB should be ashamed of the fact that they were nurturing a sexual harasser in their organization, by ignoring their actions on social media and in real life.
It seems that the action initiated by AIB team is mere tokenism to save face and nothing more. Their each and every social media statement seems to be a reply to the flak which they have received on their previous statements. The action against Tanmay and Gursimran Khamba seems temporary and inadequate, they will be hired back as soon as the storm settles down. However, they would not enjoy the same influence which they have enjoyed so far in the social circles. They are completely devastated and even their most staunch followers seem to have left them. No matter how hard they try, there is no coming back from here. A little spark has ignited a mighty fire which has turned AIB to ashes. There were chances of a return had the team taken necessary action against the accused when the news had first come out, any steps being taken now will be too little, too late. What has happened with AIB is a big victory for women in India especially those who are victims of their sexual predatory behavior. Collapse of AIB is the first major victory of the #metoo movement of India. It will give confidence to many other women to raise their voices against the ordeal which they have faced at their work places. It will be not at all surprising if in the days to come the #metoo movement of India gets further intensified and many other demons would succumb to it.
