Last weekend, comedian Jamie Lever came to the high TRP show ‘Bigg Boss ’19 as a guest. She was called to roast the celebs/ contestants in the Bigg Boss house on Weekend Ka Var. Jamie is known for her best comic timing through the industry and has been called as a guest on many reality shows. However, it has been the first time she has used an insensitive joke specifically on mental health. This has attracted criticism from the audience and people. According to viewers, the comment was offensive and went too far, breaking the boundaries between humour and personal attack.
During the fun and jokes, she commented on one of the contestants, Tanya Mittal’s life. “You eat baklava from Dubai, biscuits from London… then where do you get treated?” The latter part points to how she takes care of her mental health. Another comment, “Ilaaj kaha se karati ho”, went viral across social media, where audiences refer to it as offensive and cruel. The comment was unacceptable, even if it happened for a few minutes during the whole show.
Read More: Bigg Boss Show: A Psychological Perspective
Mindful Comedy
On social media, many viewers and fans have shared that the creator team and celebrities have. Those who come as guests must be mindful of the jokes and words they use during the roasting part. A discussion was initiated wherein it came into light that a stark distinction between humour and harm needs to be understood. The entertainment platform must consider the impact on an individual’s emotional health when roasting and comedy takes place at a public bench on National Television.
Fan Reaction
The fans have backlash, Jamie stating the comment as “disrespectful” towards mental health. They also felt that every week on the weekend ka Var Tanya is being targeted again and again by all the guests. It has been pointed out as making her “single out” under the label of roasting.
Read More: Why Do People Love Watching Bigg Boss?: Perspectives of a Psychologist
Why Joke About Mental Health?
In India, there is a rapid growth of mental health issues among youth, among which suicide is a major concern. Taking mental health intervention, such as counselling or psychiatric treatment, is still considered taboo and a weakness. This has been significantly associated with low awareness and stigma among people. In India, 13.7% of individuals have a lifetime prevalence of a mental health disorder in a lifetime. 15% of India’s adult population experience mental health issues that require intervention (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2025).
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