XYXX, KFC pull back from comedy sponsorships as crowd-work virality triggers brand-safety crisis

Post-IGL and Pranit More controversies, XYXX cancelled Rs 35L/episode deals and KFC disabled comments on Samay Raina content. Brands sponsoring India's Rs 1,500 cr stand-up ecosystem now demand new frameworks for unscripted risk as single clips hit 53.4M views.

— Filed Mon, 15 Jun, 2026, 10:12 IST · Source ET BrandEquity · Updated

Analysis for Indian brand sponsors of stand-up comedy: post-IGL and Pranit More controversies, brands like XYXX cancelled Rs 35L/episode deals and KFC disabled comments. Calls for sponsorship frameworks addressing unscripted crowd-work virality risks.

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