Amid the ‘Rs 370 Biryani’ controversy, IIT Delhi alumnus and stand-up comedian Madhur Virli’s 2024 set of rape jokes from his show ‘Love & Latex’ has resurfaced online, sparking widespread outrage. Social media users condemned the jokes and the audience laughed. Virli has since deactivated his Instagram account and has remained silent.
Praneet More sparked outrage after his video, in which a woman’s dignity was compared to a cheap meal, went viral, putting comedians under the microscope. Adding to the backlash, comedian Madhur Virli’s 2024 line-up has also resurfaced online which includes offensive remarks about serious crimes such as rape.
The controversy that has put Madhur Fairley and Praneet More under the microscope
Many social media users believe the backlash is justified, with some even saying the anger is not strong enough. In both clips, the audience laughed at insensitive remarks about women, suggesting that such attitudes are widespread. While Moore’s teamwork videos featuring Himanshu Jangra and Dr. Sejal Pawar are recent, Madhur Virley’s controversial set dates back to his 2024 show ‘Love & Latex’, which has now resurfaced online.
from IIT Delhi To the comedy stage: Who is Madur Fairley?
Delhi-based comedian Madhur Fairley is known for his dark humor, sharp writing and storytelling. His popular collection ‘IIT Dream’ has struck a chord with students and professionals alike. A graduate of IIT Delhi, he initially pursued a traditional career before gaining recognition in 2018 after winning the Improv Comedy category at the Inter-IIT Cultural Conclave. Since then, he has performed across India, released specials on YouTube, and built a strong online presence.
His content, which often focuses on mental health, relationships, and student life, reflects his middle-class roots and resonates with urban youth.
The clip that crossed the line: what Madur Fairley said in his 2024 collection
In a video now circulating online, Madore sparked criticism for making rape jokes and mocking survivors. During the group, he claimed that out of 10 rape cases, nine involve rape only while one may escalate to murder. He went on to say that after committing a rape, if a woman asked to be “huddled,” that could provoke more violence, adding: “Now hug me with a knife,” which sparked laughter from the audience.
He further noted, “Rape victims say we would have preferred death to this.
But kabhi bhi kisi lash nahin bola ki rape ho jaata [No dead body has ever said that rape might have been better]’, sparking another round of laughter.
Rape in India in numbers
According to the India Crime Report 2021 released by the National Crime Records Bureau, a total of 20,046 rape cases were recorded in 2020, with an average of about 86 cases reported daily across the country.
The Internet reacts to Mador Fairley’s jokes
Madhur chose rape as the theme for his collection, which has now sparked outrage online, especially amid the ongoing controversy over the ‘370 Rs Biryani’. When the old clip resurfaced, one social media user criticized the act, writing: “If this is your idea of a joke, what exactly are you bringing to the stage? Because this isn’t clever, it’s not layered, and it’s not even remotely clever. It’s just picking something annoying, throwing it out there, and trusting that people are numb enough to laugh.”
This is not a skill. This is not courage. This is just you getting a reaction to something you didn’t even earn. And the audience laughs at this? This is the real problem.”Another wrote: “This is not dark humor, this is not edgy comedy, it’s just harmful. When ‘jokes’ like this normalize the oppression of certain groups of people, they do something to society that we don’t even realize right now, and the scary part? People laugh.”
Mador Fairley stays silent as backlash grows
In the wake of the controversy, Madhur Fairley chose to remain silent, deactivating his Instagram account and staying out of the public eye completely. No statement was made, no apology was made, and no explanation was given.Trigger Warning: Article contains references to rape and abuse.
