During the inaugural National Creators Award ceremony at Delhi's Bharat Mandapam, Prime Minister Modi presented the "Disruptor of the Year" award to Allahbadia, known online as 'BeerBiceps'. Upon receiving the award, Allahbadia expressed a desire to host the Prime Minister on his podcast, stating, "I am in the mood to do a podcast with you, sir." The Prime Minister responded, "A lot of people have a lot of moods," eliciting laughter from the audience.
This exchange has drawn criticism due to Allahbadia's history of making offensive remarks on his platform. Critics argue that the Prime Minister's engagement with such a figure could be interpreted as an implicit endorsement of his controversial content. Gaurav Gogoi emphasized the need for the Prime Minister to be more discerning in his public interactions, suggesting that such endorsements could inadvertently legitimize inappropriate behavior.
The National Creators Award aims to recognize digital content creators who have made significant contributions across various domains, including storytelling, social change advocacy, environmental sustainability, education, gaming, and technology. The event was attended by numerous influencers and content creators from across the country.
Ranveer Allahbadia, who hosts the popular podcast 'The Ranveer Show', has previously featured several prominent personalities, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Despite his platform's popularity, Allahbadia has faced backlash for certain comments made during his shows, which many have found offensive and insensitive.
In light of this controversy, political analysts have highlighted the importance of public figures, especially those in positions of power, being mindful of the individuals they choose to associate with publicly. They argue that such associations can have far-reaching implications, potentially influencing public perception and societal norms.