New Delhi: The music reality show ‘MTV Hustle’ is now embroiled in a heated controversy, and the hashtag #ShameOnMTVHUSTLE is trending online. This criticism is a result of claims that the show's creator is forcing YouTube to delete comedian Rohan Cariappa's channel because he made sarcastic jokes about the show. Here's a breakdown of what happened:
Rohan Cariappa and the YouTube Strike
The whole thing started when Rohan Cariappa, a comedian, said that his YouTube account was about to be deleted because of "50-plus strikes" on his videos about ‘MTV Hustle’. Cariappa published a notice on Instagram that his channel will be deleted on July 7th.
Cariappa, who published a humorous commentary on the hip-hop reality show, wrote, "Killswitch aur Danish ke baad mera bhi elimination ho raha hai," implying the channel’s retaliation for his jokes.
Fandom and social media users swiftly rallied in favour of Rohan Cariappa. According to them, MTV Hustle was trying to censor dissenting opinions by using its authority. Amid the growing outrage, the hashtag #ShameOnMTVHUSTLE gained traction, with many demanding justice and the right of artists to freely express themselves without fear of repercussions.
A Message from Raftaar via Video
‘MTV Hustle’ judge Raftaar sent a video statement on social media to address the continuing issue as the outcry grew. Raftaar pleaded with the show's producers to keep everyone calm and offered a suggestion for a solution.
The rapper said, "We only have love. This is a whole community. We will stand with the community. Don’t worry my brother, Rohan. I want to request MTV Hustle. Please be calm; let’s meet in the middle and make it happen. Keep calm and be patient."
Raftaar also used the chance to bring attention to the show’s brilliant artists, noting, "There are several kids who write songs within 4-5 days on this show, and people are forgetting all the great work and artists here. We cannot forget them. We will find a solution. It's that simple."
Freedom of Expression and Boat's Statement
In the midst of the controversy, Boat, the official sponsor of MTV Hustle, released a statement (now deleted). The company was quite clear about their goal in participating in the show: to highlight up-and-coming hip-hop artists.
The statement reads: “We firmly believe that this should never come at the cost of limiting the freedom to comment, critique, or create content on any topic for other creators. We do not support the recent actions that have caused concern within the artist community. We sincerely hope this matter is resolved amicably.”
About ‘MTV Hustle’
In the well-known reality show ‘MTV Hustle’, which honours Indian rap and hip-hop talent, new-age rappers fight for the coveted title. Along with judges Raftaar and Ikka, the show just debuted its fourth season on MTV, with special guest Badshah. The reappearance of Badshah, a judge in the second and third seasons, in a special episode, gave the current season more celebrity power.