MTV Hustle in controversy. | Image: Instagram
MTV Hustle was celebrated until the trending hashtag #ShameOnMTVHUSTLE emerged online. The issue began when YouTuber Rohan Cariappa, a Hip-Hop content creator from Bengaluru, posted a video criticizing judge Ikka for wearing a Harley Davidson jacket on the Royal Enfield-sponsored program. This caused friction with MTV Hustle, resulting in the removal of several related videos from his channel. The situation intensified when Rohan announced the channel was allegedly forcibly shutting down his YouTube account.
Rohan Carriapa’s YouTube channel to face closure on December 7
The hashtag #ShameOnMTVHUSTLE gained traction on Monday as Rohan detailed the incident on his social media. On November 30, he tweeted about it, tagging Royal Enfield with the message, “Sorry! Main toh na sehta”.
Shortly after, Rohan shared another post tagging YouTube and YouTube India, reporting that his videos had received 50 strikes. He expressed frustration, stating, “My videos are being unlawfully removed thanks to these egotistical maniacs heading major companies. Kindly look into it, need your intervention.” He also shared a message indicating, “Hustle videos struck down! YouTube might get deleted”.
This situation escalated on Sunday when Rohan posted an Instagram Story with the caption “50+ Strikes”. He followed up with a screenshot from his YouTube page stating, “Your video was removed due to copyright removal request and your YouTube channel is scheduled to be removed on December 7.” In a dramatic post, he wrote, “The channel shuts down on the 7th … Killswitch aur Danish ke baad mera bhi elimination ho raha hai (I have been eliminated after Killswitch and Danish).”
For those unaware, Danish and Killswitch were contestants in the show.
The internet rallies behind Rohan Carriapa
Following Rohan’s post, social media users quickly expressed their support for him, generating the hashtag #ShameOnMTVHUSTLE. One user on X stated, “MTV has issued more than 50 strikes against Rohan Cariappa’s channel, and they are terminating it just because they couldn’t handle honest feedback! Shame on MTV.”
Another user commented, “The entire dhh community stands with @cariappa_rohan. We won’t allow that fake show to ruin Dhh #shameonmtvhustle”.
“MTV Hustle is playing underhanded games now. They’ve started sending bots. You run a hip-hop show, but you’re acting contrary to the values of hip-hop. This behavior will not be accepted,” stated another user.
“Remove @cariappa_rohan’s videos ASAP! #ShameonMTVHustle This is so disheartening #ShameonMTVHustle They have no idea how much his channel has contributed to the Indian hip-hop scene,” another user expressed disbelief.
Rohan Carriapa reflects: “It was a fun video I would have taken down willingly”
According to The Indian Music Diaries on Instagram, Rohan mentioned that the videos in question were fun and that he would have willingly deleted them if MTV Hustle had simply asked. “I had also released 7-8 other videos praising the show, and they took those down as well,” he shared.
Addressing the show directly, Cariappa remarked, “Your tagline is ‘hip hop don’t stop’, and you claim to be the best hip-hop show in India while acting against the fundamental values of hip-hop. Hip-hop emerged as a genre for expression and values freedom of speech, yet this show and its creators seem to contravene that principle.”