Edited photo shows the smiling US comic and the Indian pilot sipping tea with the caption 'stay home, stay safe'.PHOTO: TWITTER/(@JeremyMcLellan)
In the image, the roughed up pilot can be seen sipping on the now iconic cup of tea given to him during his 60-hour capture in Pakistan in February last year with the wreckage of downed Indian Air Force (IAF) Mig-21 in the background.
The comic, who is known for his love of everything Pakistani, took a sly dig at Indians by using the caption "Stay Home, Stay Safe," which has been doing the rounds on social media as a part of global campaign to get people to socially isolate amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay Home, Stay Safe ☕️ pic.twitter.com/YEuRZS3zJp
— Jeremy McLellan (@JeremyMcLellan) April 5, 2020
The post sparked fury among Indian social media users but the comedian continued with his trolling. "Why are Indians messaging me saying he’s a hero. I know he’s a hero that’s why I gave him tea and took a picture with him," he tweeted later.
Why are Indians messaging me saying he’s a hero. I know he’s a hero that’s why I gave him tea and took a picture with him.
— Jeremy McLellan (@JeremyMcLellan) April 5, 2020
It was clear that the post had struck a 'sensitive nerve' across the border with McLellan then going on to share a screenshot of a message an Indian Twitter user had sent him.
normal day in quarantine 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/6wiQr14nYY
— Jeremy McLellan (@JeremyMcLellan) April 5, 2020
In Pakistan, unsurprisingly, there was much joy at the post.
— عفت (@effatfakhri) April 5, 2020
It also resulted in a cascade of posts, with one user putting up a picture of the Indian pilot getting treatment from medics in Pakistan.
https://twitter.com/lucky_mirza300/status/1246860598907936772
The comic was not done there, as he then posted another edited photo of himself with his arm around a smiling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Because of your angry messages I would like to announce that I am now pro-India and anti-Pakistan. Apparently India has more people/money and is ruled by my wise and powerful step-dad Modi. They also invented space ships 7,000 years ago. Excited for my upcoming comedy tour!"
Because of your angry messages I would like to announce that I am now pro-India and anti-Pakistan. Apparently India has more people/money and is ruled by my wise and powerful step-dad Modi. They also invented space ships 7,000 years ago. Excited for my upcoming comedy tour! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Eim4FMRG73
— Jeremy McLellan (@JeremyMcLellan) April 6, 2020
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