Netflix’s new comedy film Best of the Best has sparked criticism over a joke referencing the chaotic 2021 evacuation from Kabul.
The film began streaming on Netflix on September 18. It follows childhood friends Maya and Anjali as they join UCLA’s competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team.
The controversy centres on a line delivered by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s character, Maya, during a conversation with a friend.
“Guys throw themselves at you like you’re the last plane out of Kabul.”
The line quickly drew criticism on social media. Viewers argued that the reference trivialised a traumatic event that affected thousands of Afghans.
Kabul Reference Sparks Online Backlash
The criticism spread across platforms including X and Instagram as users discussed the film’s treatment of the Kabul evacuation.
Thousands of Afghans and foreign nationals rushed to Kabul airport in August 2021 after the Taliban returned to power. Chaotic scenes showed people desperately trying to leave the country, including civilians attempting to cling to departing aircraft.
A deadly ISIS-K bombing at the airport also added to the tragedy.
Some viewers therefore questioned the decision to use the evacuation as a punchline. Critics argued that the joke reduced real suffering to a casual reference.
Viewers Call for Response
The backlash has also drawn criticism from Afghanistan-focused journalist and storyteller Shabnam Nasimi.
Nasimi questioned the use of the reference in a film promoted as a celebration of South Asian American identity. Other social media users have similarly called on Netflix and the filmmakers to address the criticism.
However, not all online reactions have been negative. Some viewers have defended the use of dark humour and argued that comedy often references difficult historical events.
Netflix and Filmmakers Yet to Respond
Best of the Best was directed by Lena Khan and co-written by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam.
The film stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia as Maya and Anjali. Hasan Minhaj, Ankur Rathee, Janina Gavankar and Lilly Singh also appear in the cast.
As of the latest reports, Netflix, Khan and Minhaj had not publicly addressed the backlash surrounding the Kabul reference.
The controversy has renewed debate about the limits of comedy when filmmakers reference recent conflicts, displacement and humanitarian tragedies.
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