Internet users demand action against AP YouTuber Praneeth’s offensive jokes

Hyderabad: Praneeth Hanumanthu, a self-proclaimed content creator and son of senior IAS officer H. Arun Kumar, who was recently seen in a brief role as Selva Manikayam Bujjulu in Sudheer Babu’s film Harom Hara, is facing severe criticism for his latest online video containing incestuous comments and ‘jokes’.

In his latest video, Praneeth and two others made inappropriate and offensive comments and sexualized a father-daughter relationship under the guise of humor. The content, which many found grotesque, has drawn widespread condemnation. Numerous social media users have tagged the Telangana Police and demanded Praneeth’s arrest under the POCSO Act.

Praneeth was earlier known for his reviews of Telugu films and often attracted the ire of fans of big actors like Mahesh Babu with his blunt comments. However, he is now being criticised for degrading and obscene content.

Despite being the son of an IAS officer, Praneeth’s actions have not shielded him from criticism.

Telugu actor Sai Dharam Tej has urged Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and the police to take strict action against Hanumantha. Taking to X, he tweeted, “Beyond cruel, disgusting and frightening. Monsters like these go unnoticed on the widely used social platforms and commit child abuse in the garb of so-called fun and lust. Child safety is the need of the hour. I sincerely request Telangana Chief Minister @revanth_anumala and Deputy Chief Minister @Bhatti_Mallu Garu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister @ncbn Garu and Deputy Chief Minister @PawanKalyan Garu and @naralokesh Garu to take necessary action to stop cruel acts like these in future.”

https://x.com/iamsaidharamtej/status/1809896679799415243?s=46

Praneeth apologizes

Praneeth subsequently removed the offending parts of the video and apologized on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Have edited out the problematic part from the video. I apologize unconditionally and unequivocally for the error in judgement. As a creator, I always try to bring a smile to people’s faces. Unfortunately, this time I have crossed the line between what is dark and what is in bad taste.”

https://x.com/phanumantwo/status/1809407667867427120?s=46

The apology has not softened the backlash, with many netizens pointing out Praneeth’s past, saying he has a history of making insensitive jokes about father-daughter relationships, people with disabilities, orphans and objectification of women.

He is also accused of promoting and condoning paedophilia in the name of black humor. In some videos, Praneeth is seen boasting about his ability to create deepfake images of women, further fueling the controversy.

https://x.com/cinnamonn_boyy/status/1809582019849900202?s=46

The situation sparked calls for legal action and sparked a broader debate about the ethical limits of online content creation.

When contacted by NewsMeter, an official from the Telangana Women and Child Welfare Department, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “The content creator or YouTuber lives in Andhra Pradesh. No complaint has been received by the Telangana Women and Child Welfare Department so far.”

Public scrutiny remained intense, with many calling for stricter regulations to prevent such behavior in the future.