American comedian Jeremy McLellan has again managed to provoke sentiments in India with his latest tweet ridiculing Indian prime minister and air force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

While the netizens in Pakistan appeared to enjoy the jest, the Indians, on the other hand, expectedly bashed the US comedian.

The edited photo shows the smiling US comic and the Indian pilot sipping tea with the caption 'Stay home, stay safe'.

In the edited image, the Indian Air Force pilot can be seen sipping a cup of tea given to him during his detention in Pakistan in February last year after his MiG-21 warplane was shot down by the Pakistani Air Force.

McLellan took a dig at Indians by using the caption “Stay Home, Stay Safe,” which has been doing the rounds on social media as part of a global campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The post sparked a furore among Indian netizens and many called it a cheap publicity stunt. The comedian further said. “Why are Indians messaging me saying he’s a hero. I know he’s a hero that’s why I gave him tea and took a picture with him,” he tweeted later.

https://twitter.com/JeremyMcLellan/status/1246863127372869639

In a damage control mode, McLellan then posted another edited photo of himself with his arm around a smiling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

https://twitter.com/JeremyMcLellan/status/1246989327340535808

He said “Because of your angry messages, I would like to announce that I am now pro-India and anti-Pakistan. Apparently India has more people/money and is ruled by my wise and powerful step-dad Modi. They also invented spaceships 7,000 years ago. Excited for my upcoming comedy tour!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOavNaBX4NU