Mumbai’s Habitat Studio, a well-known venue for stand-up comedy, has announced its temporary closure following an attack by Shiv Sena workers protesting comedian Kunal Kamra’s jokes about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

In an Instagram statement, the studio expressed distress over the vandalism and stated that it would remain shut “until we find a way to support free expression without endangering ourselves and our property.”

“We are deeply shaken and disheartened by the recent attack. Performers are responsible for their own content, and we have never dictated or influenced what artists choose to express. However, these repeated incidents make it seem as though we are being held accountable as a stand-in for the performers,” the post read.

The Habitat has previously been at the center of controversy, notably during an ‘India’s Got Latent’ episode featuring YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia.

In light of the recent events, the studio invited artists, audiences, and stakeholders for an open dialogue on balancing artistic freedom with safety concerns. “We want to ensure that performers can express themselves while also safeguarding our venue,” the statement added.

Before the attack, the studio had distanced itself from Kamra’s latest video, clarifying that it was not involved in its production and did not endorse the content. Despite issuing a public apology, the venue was vandalized by Shiv Sena workers, prompting its decision to temporarily shut down.