New Delhi: The host of Dance Deewane 3, Raghav Juyal has received major backlash, including from Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with many calling out the former for being ‘racist and cringe-worthy’. In the video clip that raised the hackles of many natives, Raghav Juyal is seen introducing a contestant from Assam with words like “momo,” “ching chong” and “gibberish Chinese.”
The clipping from the dance reality show has gone viral on social media which shows Raghav introducing the Assamese participant with the monologue.
Racism!@TheRaghav_Juyal introducing Gunjan Sinha of Assam in #DanceDeewane3 of @ColorsTV with “Momo”, “Chinese” and celebs like @remodsouza, @MadhuriDixit have no objection in it.
People of Assam is not Chinese, yet such shows always do racism comments.
When will it stop? pic.twitter.com/cOTA8s8nvy— Ron Bikash Gaurav (@RonBikashGaurav) November 15, 2021
Netizens have shown anger regarding the content as well as the presenter. Even Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has condemned the statement saying, “It has come to my notice that a popular reality show host has used racist rhetoric against a young participant from Guwahati. This is shameful and totally unacceptable. Racism has no place in our country and we should all condem it unequivocally.”
It has come to my notice that a popular reality show host has used racist rhetoric against a young participant from Guwahati. This is shameful and totally unacceptable. Racism has no place in our country and we should all condem it unequivocally.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 16, 2021
One of the Twitter users berated Raghav saying, “It’s 2021, but the #racist Indians still practicing ‘Chinese’ ‘momo’ ‘ching chong’ #racism as a comic element on their national television with their #bollywood celebs applauding it. The racist host @TheRaghav_Juyal introducing Gunjan Sinha from Assam in a show on @ColorsTV.” (sic)
Clarifying the context, Raghav uploaded a video on Instagram and also apologised for hurting the sentiment. In the video, he stated that using words like “momo,” “chowmein” and other gibberish words were a reference to the participant’s talent of conversing in Chinese. Besides, he stated that he not only respects people from the Northeast region but has also stood up for them.
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“It’s unfair and not good for my mental health to see this short clip without the right context. When this contestant came to the show, she announced that she had a talent for speaking Chinese. My performance was based on that,” Raghav said.
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The respective episode featured judges Madhuri Dixit, Tushar Kalia, Dharmesh Yelande, and guest Remo D’Souza. The fans have also questioned these celebs for not criticising the remark.
