Comedian Hasan Minhaj has spoken out against the controversy surrounding a September New Yorker profile that raised questions about the authenticity of stories in his stand-up comedy.
The New Yorker article raised doubts about the authenticity of Minhaj's accounts regarding incidents of racism, Islamophobia, and political challenges in his life.
“There were omissions and factual errors in The New Yorker article that misrepresented my life story, so I wanted to give people the context and materials I provided The New Yorker with full transparency,” Minhaj said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter after posting his video online.
In a 21-minute video statement, Minhaj acknowledged that some fans might be questioning whether he had used fabricated racism and Islamophobia to further his career, and said, “I just want to say to anyone who felt betrayed or hurt by my stand-up, I am sorry. I made artistic choices to express myself and drive home larger issues affecting me and my community, and I feel horrible that I let people down. And the reason I feel horrible is because I'm not a psycho. But this New Yorker article definitely made me look like one."
Minhaj criticised the article as “needlessly misleading” not only about his stand-up but also about him as a person.
“It was so needlessly misleading, not just about my stand-up, but also about me as a person. The truth is that racism, FBI surveillance, and the threats to my family happened. And I said this on the record," he said in the video.
Minhaj added, “So I'm going to do the most Hasan Minhaj thing ever: I'm going to do a deep dive on my own scandal, with graphics, because there is so much evidence I gave the New Yorker that they ignored that I want to show you."
In his Netflix special Homecoming King, Minhaj recounted an incident involving asking a white girl, whom he pseudonymously referred to as "Bethany Reed," to the prom, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He described showing up at her house and being told by her mother that Bethany wouldn't go with him because her family didn't want their daughter pictured with "a brown boy."
The New Yorker claimed Minhaj had actually been turned down days earlier and that race wasn’t a factor in the rejection.
In his video, Minhaj reproduced audio clips of his interview with the magazine and email exchanges with the former prom date and iterated that race was a reason for his rejection.
“How could The New Yorker imply the opposite?” Minhaj asked. He also alleged that the magazine had omitted chunks of his official statements.
The Simpsons is embracing riskier storytellingIMDb
Diljit's Instagram storyInstagram screengrab/ 
Diljit Dosanjh spotted at Coachella where he made history as a Punjabi headlinerGetty Images 
Fans cheer as Diljit takes the stage at an eventGetty Images
Big B defends his choice to praise Abhishek openly and others privately
Amitabh Bachchan reveals why he praises Abhishek publicly but not Jaya or Aishwarya
Quick highlights:
Amitabh Bachchan has responded to online comments asking why he often praises son Abhishek Bachchan on social media but not wife Jaya Bachchan, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, or daughter Shweta. The actor explained that while he chooses to support Abhishek publicly, he honours the women in his family privately, saying he prefers to respect them “in his heart.”
Bachchan defends Abhishek praise, addresses fan remarks online
The 81-year-old actor, who regularly shares photos and thoughts with fans, recently posted images of himself meeting admirers outside his Mumbai home, Jalsa. Captioned “Yes, I praise Abhishek. So?”, the post sparked comments from users questioning why he doesn’t do the same for Jaya, Aishwarya, or Shweta.
Responding directly, Bachchan wrote, “Yes, I shall praise them in my heart… not publicly… respect for the ladies.” His reply quickly circulated across platforms, with many praising his thoughtful answer. Others pointed to his tendency to engage more often when defending Abhishek, especially around film releases.
Bachchan also shut down a user accusing him of having “paid fans,” bluntly replying, “Prove it! You are small-minded… why don’t you pay and get fans too?” When another person mocked those waiting outside his home as “unemployed,” he replied with characteristic wit: “So give them a job? When they stand at the gate of Jalsa, they are EMPLOYED in love.”
Actor remains active on social media while juggling film projects
Bachchan has become increasingly interactive online in recent years, often directly responding to criticism and fan feedback. Meanwhile, Abhishek was last seen in Housefull 5, a multi-starrer comedy that released earlier this month. Jaya Bachchan appeared in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023, while Aishwarya Rai was part of Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan films. Despite the online chatter, Amitabh continues to walk his own path, on-screen and online.