Himanshu Jangra, a web developer who came under fire after a viral stand-up comedy clip showed him suggesting that spending Rs 370 on a woman entitled him to physical intimacy, has been fired by Gurugram-based social media and branding firm Starvik Design.
The company announced the decision after the video sparked widespread outrage online and led to a flood of messages, emails and calls directed at the firm.
In an Instagram video, Starvik Design founder Vivek Vishwakarma said the controversy had begun affecting the workplace and the company’s reputation.
“What happened outside the workplace has now affected the workplace. I have a responsibility towards the company, our team, our clients and the environment we create here. That’s why we have decided to part ways with Himanshu,” he said.
The controversy began during a live show by comedian Pranit More, where Jangra, while interacting with the comedian, spoke about taking a woman out for a meal and expecting something in return.
He said he was surprised when the woman simply asked him to drop her off at home after the meal. Referring to the Rs 370 he had spent on chicken biryani, Jangra remarked that he would “recover” the money he had spent, a comment that was widely criticised on social media.
Following the backlash, Jangra apologised and deactivated his social media account. However, the criticism continued, leading to his termination.
Vishwakarma said the comments were offensive and did not reflect the values of the company.
“Like many of you, I also came across the clips circulating online. The statements shown in those clips are offensive. They are not something I agree with. They are not something our company stands for and they certainly should not be influencing young minds,” he said.
At the same time, Vishwakarma said Jangra’s conduct inside the workplace had not been questioned. He said he had spoken with employees, including women team members, who described Jangra as professional, respectful and hardworking.
The founder also argued that while people should be held accountable for their actions, they should still be given an opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
“A person can be wrong. A person can make a terrible mistake. A person should face consequences. But I hope we never become a society that believes people cannot learn, reflect, apologise or change,” he said.
He added that the consequences of the controversy would likely remain with Jangra for a long time and expressed hope that he would learn from the episode.
