Netflix’s new comedy Best of the Best has found itself at the centre of an online debate after a dialogue referencing the 2021 Kabul evacuation drew criticism from viewers. The film, directed by Lena Khan and co-written by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam, features the line during a conversation involving Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s character, Maya.

Best of the Best dialogue sparks criticism

The film began streaming on Netflix on September 18 and follows childhood friends Maya and Anjali as they join UCLA’s competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team. While the story explores friendship, sisterhood and the South Asian American experience, one particular joke has shifted attention towards the film’s handling of a traumatic real-world event.