The third episode of India’s Got Latent quickly became a talking point because of contestant Sakshi Jha’s remarks during her performance. She described herself as a “man hater” and later said she was a “feminist.” In response, Raghu Ram told her not to identify as a feminist if she believed misandry represented feminism. Following the episode’s release on YouTube and Netflix, Jha found herself facing intense backlash across social media. The Bihar-based teacher soon became the focus of memes on social media. Amidst that, Samay Raina has now appealed to viewers to show compassion towards Sakshi, after episode three triggered widespread criticism over her comments about men. Taking to social media, Raina acknowledged that Jha had become the target of countless memes but urged people not to let the trolling cross the line into personal attacks. He joked that he had packed his bags and headed to Alibag as soon as the episode was released, saying he knew another controversy was likely on its way.In one of his videos, Raina addressed the trolling directly. “Bahaut sare memes ban rhe hain ‘man hater’ Sakshi Jha ke (‘Man hater’ Sakshi Jha is the new subject of memes].” He followed it with an appeal: “But request hai mere ‘mens’ ke liye [I have a request for ‘mens’), just be kind to her man.”Explaining his perspective, Raina said India’s Got Latent is a platform where contestants often say unexpected things and added that performing on its stage is far from easy. He admitted he was saddened by the amount of hate directed at Jha and asked viewers to ensure their criticism remained respectful. While he said he had no objection to light-hearted jokes, he reminded people, “But remember, waha par bhi ek insaan hai (Remember that there is a human being at the receiving end).“The comedian also encouraged his followers to support Jha, saying it was the perfect opportunity to send her kindness. “It will show her that ‘mens’ are amazing people, too,” he remarked. Raina further credited Jha for making the latest episode memorable, saying that without her contribution, it would not have been as successful. “You have to give it to her,” he added.In another Instagram Story, Raina tagged Jha and wrote, “Sending you lots of love from ‘mens’.” During her appearance on the show, Jha repeatedly referred to herself as a “man hater” and reacted with “chhee” (eww) while making a face whenever “mard” (men) were mentioned. She also claimed that she hated her father, grandfather and brother, saying she had even told her father this directly.When Vishal Dadlani questioned her about her stated fantasy of beating her husband, Jha clarified that she meant doing so after consuming alcohol. Defending the remark humorously, she said that as someone from Gen Z, “kuchh to alag hona chahiye na” (something should be different).Jha also described a “good man” as someone who unquestioningly obeys his wife, or a “joru ka gulaam.” Her statements rapidly spread online, sparking debates about feminism and prompting many users to argue that the zero scores she received from every judge accurately reflected her performance on India’s Got Latent 2.The second season of India’s Got Latent marked Samay Raina’s return after the controversy surrounding the previous season. Its opening episode, featuring actors Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh, received mixed reactions, with some viewers welcoming the show’s comeback while others felt it lacked the spontaneous, unfiltered charm that had previously made it a viral sensation.
