Comedy Central banned for ten days for 'vulgar' and 'obscene' content

Comedy Central has been stopped for ten days for airing obscene and vulgar words besides being derogatory to women.

Stating multiple clauses that the channel has breached, the I&B Ministry asked Comedy Central to go off air from May 25 till June 4 for telecasting 'offensive' words in Stand Up Club and Popcorn programmes on May 26 and July 4 last year.

The order issued by Delhi High court said that the programme showed a man performing an act of stand-up comedy and mouthing vulgar words accompanied by obscene and suggestive gestures and gyration. During his performance, the man was shown uttering dialogues denigrating women, indecently and crudely referred to sex organs of men-and women and the sing-song rendition by the man sought to pornographically describe .the male lust, depicting women as a commodity of sex. The portrayal appeared to deprave, corrupt and injure the public morality or morals.

The second case was an episode from the reality show titled “Popcorn” wherein members of the Comedy Central crew are seen playing pranks on the general populace. In this case, one of the Comedy Central crew members was seen mimicking the act of intercourse with a set of dummy legs, in different locations.

In response to the show cause notice issued by the ministry, Comedy Central said that as a 24-hour channel dedicated to English language comedy content, they cater to a niche viewership accustomed to and interested in English programmes.

They further clarified that Popcorn is a reality show which contained different pranks. And in this show after playing a prank on any individual, the 'victim' of the prank is informed about it and also informed about the fact that the prank was being recorded.