Comedian Neville Shah apologises for ‘quota admission’ joke after 5 year old video clip went viral

Image Source: Neville Shah's official website (nevilleshah.com)

Stand-up comedian Neville Shah has issued an apology after a video clip of his performance five years ago went viral on social media. He said that the performance was taped a few months after he lost his mother.

Neville Shah said, “I apologise for the trauma, the anger and duress that the joke has caused a lot of people. I am sorry.” “It was taped a few months after the loss of my mother in 2016. The joke in question and a lot of the others are about me grieving and dealing with that loss. I was trying to convert my loss to words and in the course of that, if I have hurt anyone or any community’s feelings, I am truly sorry,” he added.

Neville Shah apologises over a joke

He stated, “I had no intention to hurt or insult any community. I realise, that the joke though only intended to be funny, has been largely found to be tasteless and devoid of humour. I also re- alise that it has hurt people, even though that was never my intention. I truly apologise for the thoughtless remark on quota admissions.”

A video clip of his performance was in circulation since Sunday. During the performance, he jokes about a doctor who he suspected of being a ‘quota admission’. He says, “Why do you have to give quota admission when there’s a matter of life involved?”

People on social media had taken offense at the comment and attributed it to his ‘Savarna’ background.

https://twitter.com/outcastritesh/status/1393945614946164746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/pussyriotttt/status/1394218871050051584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Others accused him of insulting doctors.

https://twitter.com/AruneshX/status/1393980030565249028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Some saw it as evidence of ‘Brahminism’.

https://twitter.com/Pakeezahawadh/status/1394523245689380868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

People also took offense at the joke as it described a limping doctor. They said it enforced stereotypes about the ‘disabled’ community.

https://twitter.com/DwDAoC/status/1394155502766940162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

There is great anger against Shah for the joke.

https://twitter.com/untitledhalffag/status/1394260364246716416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

People on social media are not satisfied with his apology either.

https://twitter.com/fragnipanicked/status/1394346939123216385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

ThePrint’s Dilip Mandal chastised Neville Shah for the joke as well.

https://twitter.com/Profdilipmandal/status/1394337914662707202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Neville Shah issued an apology on Monday evening, a day after the video clip was in circulation. He said that there is a great many things he has to educate himself with.

OpIndia Staff: Staff reporter at OpIndia