Rana Daggubati and Teja Sajja recently addressed the backlash following their hosting of the IIFA Awards 2024. Their satirical jokes about Tollywood stars, including Mahesh Babu and Prabhas, were intended as light-hearted entertainment but were perceived by some as offensive, sparking widespread criticism on social media.
Teja Sajja, speaking at an audio launch event, clarified that the clips circulating online were edited and misrepresented their remarks. He emphasized that the humor was purely in jest and asked fans to watch the full event to understand the original context.
Rana Daggubati also addressed the issue during a Prime Video event. He acknowledged the cultural divide in humor acceptance, explaining that while such jokes are common in award shows, they may have been misinterpreted.
Rana shared an anecdote from actor Nani, who had advised him that jokes are often misunderstood. Reflecting on this, Rana humorously remarked, “I have decided to add a scroll saying ‘This is a joke’ whenever I make one to avoid confusion.” His statement highlighted the challenges of balancing humor and sensitivity in public events.
The duo emphasized that their intent was never to disrespect any individual or fanbase. Both hope this controversy serves as a learning moment and fosters a better understanding of comedic context in future events. Fans, too, are urged to differentiate scripted entertainment from personal attacks.
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