Samay Raina Sparks Debate Over Creator Responsibility In New Video: “If Young Children Are Watching Me, Their Parents Have Failed”

Comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina recently found himself in the spotlight after a controversial clip from an older episode of India’s Got Latent resurfaced, drawing widespread criticism due to an unsettling question posed by podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia. In response to the backlash, Raina promptly removed all episodes of his show from streaming platforms and stated he would fully cooperate with authorities investigating the matter.

Now, Raina is once again making headlines, this time due to comments made during a separate podcast recorded earlier this year. In a candid and provocative exchange with Indian health and nutrition influencer Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as Food Pharmer, Raina questioned the extent of moral accountability expected from public figures and digital influencers.

 “Do you think a person like me has a responsibility to not drink Coke and to not be myself? I drink Coke at home, do you think I should fake it in public places and promote drinking water instead?” To this, Himatsingka responded: “Yes, I think it will leave an impression on kids 8–10 years of age.”

Raina immediately countered with a firm retort: “If someone as young as eight-ten years old is watching me, then their parents have failed.” He elaborated on his viewpoint by sharing a personal anecdote: “When I was that age, my father would beat me if I watched television. I didn’t watch television then. I never got influenced by all this and I really think he did a great job as a father. So the parents are the ones who need to be responsible and not me. I have to be myself. If I want to influence people to do something, it is just to be honest.”

As conversations around digital responsibility continue to evolve, Raina’s comments have once again brought the ethics of influencer culture into sharp focus.