As comedy specials on streaming services and live comedy performances rise in popularity across age demographics, some audience members have become increasingly sensitive and offended by comedians’ humor and jokes that they deem to be inappropriate or discriminatory. In the past couple of years, various comedians have received harsh backlash due to their viewers’ disapproval of their humor on stage, which technically, is their job. While there should be limits to what a comedian can say, viewers have no right to dismiss a comedian’s performance based on their own sensitivity and inability to handle a joke.
Popular comedian Tony Hinchcliffe has been accused of racism and discrimination, taking a large toll on his career. At an October Donald Trump rally, in which Trump gathered his supporters together, Hinchcliffe made a statement calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” which sparked controversy amongst both the Republican and Democratic parties, according to BBC News. Hinchcliffe responded to his fans’ complaints claiming that he loves Puerto Rico, often vacations there and made fun of everyone in his act, according to BBC News. This has raised various discussions, some claiming that America needs a sense of humor while others claim that comedians have no right to touch upon subjects of race or heritage in other countries. While there is a line between racism and a joke, viewers have become too sensitive overall and need to learn to laugh a little bit more and not ruin someone’s career because of commonly talked about topics.
In addition to Hinchcliffe, comedian, and actor Hassan Minhaj also faced backlash based on a performance on his Netflix special, which later cost him an important job. After one of Minhaj’s stand-up acts, audience members discovered that various stories told during his performance were made up. Minhaj admitted to falsifying his stories and said that much of his performance was exaggerated. Minhaj heavily relies on his Muslim and Indian heritage as a key aspect of his performance to discuss topics about inhumane law enforcement and government threats in various countries. Comedians and performers like Minhaj do not deserve to lose their careers based on their ability to make a controversial topic less serious and more humorous. Even if some of his material is made up, the point of comedy is to make people laugh, not to share news.
Fans and viewers must understand that comedians have the right to make fun of people or make jokes about various topics because it is their job to do so. A comedian is expected to make people laugh, and many do so through their ability to shed light on controversial topics. Although a comedian’s humor must have its limits, no comedian should face backlash or lose their career just because of their humor. Comedians utilize humor to address complex or sensitive topics, allowing the audience to confront issues in a lighthearted way. They are also known to push boundaries and challenge societal norms, which is a positive thing because it leads to further discussion and awareness of topics. These performers do not deserve to be met with criticism for doing their job.
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