Comedian Madhur Virli's stand-up about intimate encounter with trans woman goes viral

Comedian Madhur Virli recounted his Bali encounter and the blackmail threat that followed in Casual Tea. His stand-up special has crossed 10 million views in eight days.Madhur Virli's stand up comedy special is going viral. (Credit: YouTube/Madhur Virli)New Delhi,Oct 12, 2026 16:39 ISTStand-up comedian Madhur Virli's special Casual Tea has gone viral after he recounted how he was duped during a trip to Bali and later threatened with intimate footage. The special has crossed 10 million views in eight days, and clips and reactions from it continue to circulate widely online.The renewed attention has come even as Virli faces criticism over an older stand-up clip that resurfaced online, with users accusing him of making light of sexual violence. The backlash followed the wider debate around the 'Rs 370 Biryani' row, which had already put stand-up comedy, audience behaviour and the limits of humour under fresh scrutiny.In Casual Tea, Virli went back to an episode from Bali, which he said he had also spoken about during an admission at the office of the National Commission for Women. He said he was in what felt like the best phase of his life when he was out partying with friends at a popular club in Bali.According to Virli, an Indonesian woman approached him and said, "My little sister there thinks you are cute and wants to dance with you." After confirming that the younger woman was above 21, he agreed. He said the woman then suggested that they move to another club. Virli said that at the next club, they exchanged phone numbers and Instagram IDs. Before the elder sister left, she asked him for 2 million in local currency, saying her sister was new to Bali and needed financial help to survive in the country. He said he then went with the younger woman to an ATM, withdrew the cash and gave it to her.He said the younger sister later asked where he was staying. When he told her he was in a vacation rental home, she suggested that they go there. Once in the room, the two decided to get intimate. Virli said that was when he realised the person had the genitals of a man, but he still continued. He said the person left in the middle of the day, and he found himself blocked the next day Virli said he then received a text from an unknown number the next day that read, "We had such a great time, do you want to see?" He said the message included a video showing him engaging in oral sex. He added that he reached out to his former partner, who had a law degree, for help.He went on to say that the person contacted him again from a different number. According to Virli, when he asked for the video to be sent again because he had deleted it by mistake, the person, whom he referred to as "honey", replied, "You are not just anyone on Instagram and some of your followers follow my Instagram."He said the person then threatened to post the pictures on Instagram and asked him to send money. After he blocked that number too, he said the person contacted him again through a WhatsApp business number and repeated the threat. Virli said he then deleted his Instagram account.With Casual Tea, he has now put the story out in public himself.Therapy, shame and online responseVirli also said in the special that he sought therapy after the incident. He added that the shame associated with it no longer had anything to do with him.Reacting to the special on Reddit, one user wrote, "Loved it, absolutely amazing special, amazing artist, very courageous, and did I mention amazing? Beautifully written and presented; addressed a problem; shared his story; beautiful (sic)."Another wrote, "Madhur is such a rebel comedian always delivering uncomfortable topics so effortlessly creating environment for such heavy jokes its definitely amazing (sic)."A third user said, "It felt funny when you are watching it but after that you feel pity for him I hope he is okay (sic)".Earlier controversyVirli's name had already been circulating on social media after an old performance clip resurfaced online. Users accused him of joking about rape and questioned whether sexual violence and trauma should be turned into material for comedy. Addressing the backlash, Virli later issued a statement on his YouTube channel, saying he recognised the joke was inappropriate and had removed it shortly after performing it, two years ago.The criticism came days after comedian Pranit More and audience member Himanshu Jangra faced backlash over remarks made during a stand-up show that became known online as the 'Rs 370 Biryani' row.- Ends