AIB responds to 'vulgar content' remarks, says they are 'just jokes'

Comdey group clarifies that they did not mean to hurt anybody with their content

The All India Bakchod (AIB) comedy collective finally responded to the controversy that has surrounded their 'vulgar' content, the Times of India reported on Wednesday. 

Explaining why their video had been taken down from YouTube, the group, in a letter posted on their Facebook page, said that "they're just jokes".

Earlier, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had demanded an apology from all people involved in the AIB Roast event in Mumbai.

The Mumbai police and the Maharashtra government had also initiated a probe into allegations of “abusive and filthy” language having been used by Bollywood personalities at the AIB Roast event in Mumbai.

"Unfunny, crass or whatever you want to call them, they're still just jokes," the letter stated.

Staying true to their roots of being comedians, the letter started off with the following quote:

"'I may not agree with you, but I will defend to death my right to get offended. How dare you? Baahar mil." - Desi Voltaire."

Moreover, in regard to the taking down of their YouTube video, AIB stated clearly that they were not forced to take the video down.

Further retaining their comical stance, the letter said, "While we'd love to claim that it's because so many people watched it that it broke YouTube, the truth's a little sadder."

They cleared the air regarding their intentions, stating that their comments were not being said to hurt people.

"We don't want anybody to get hurt because of us, and we do mean anybody," the letter said.

Explaining their actual intentions, they first attempt to define what roast comedy really is.

"The format was the same as any international roast i.e. insult comedy, delivered in the form of one-liners designed to be as rude as possible. It is performed with the understanding that none of the material is to be taken seriously—none of the performers actually mean the "offensive" things they say to each other on the night. We clarify this simply to provide context."

It further clarified that they were attempting to push the boundaries of comedy in India.

"With the Knockout, in our own juvenile, idiotic way, we wanted to push the envelope of comedy in this country. But then the envelope pushed back," they said.

Unfortunately, they said people who supported them "were put in a position where things could get deeply unpleasant for them."

"We hope it's clear by now that we never write with the aim of hurting people. That's not our goal and we daresay that no comedian ever does that."

"We don't go to work and say, 'Hmm, let's offend XYZ people from XYZ community today.' If we really wanted to piss off people and hurt them, we'd be selling credit cards over the phone."

AIB also said they're open to criticism, and that it's perfectly fine if some people don't find their humour appealing.

"We respect arguments that are critical, and as for the arguments we don't, we respect your right to make them without impediment. It is a courtesy we wish worked both ways."