From: officialflagrant
Comedians frequently navigate public perception and the potential for backlash, with discussions around their work often spilling into broader cultural debates on acceptable humor and social accountability.
Navigating Controversy
The concept of “comedy beef” or comedian interactions and dynamics between comics, where they are not friends with each other, is noted as a “wild” phenomenon in the current comedy landscape [01:06:43].
Responses to Accusations and Public Scrutiny
Comedians sometimes joke about strategies to avoid the appearance of controversy. One instance involves joking about adopting a Black child as a way to avoid being labeled racist after a problematic tweet [01:26:39].
The discussion also touched on the broader concept of accountability in the age of cancel culture, particularly regarding women’s perceived lack of accountability by claiming to have been “love-bombed” as an excuse for ignoring “red flags” like a swastika tattoo [00:39:21].
Specific Incidents and Figures
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr is recalled for famously spitting on a national anthem performance, which “pissed everybody off” [01:24:52]. Whitney Cummings was the executive producer and ran the reboot of Roseanne twenty years after its original run, which was “massive” and garnered 25 million viewers [01:34:00]. She noted that the original Roseanne “got kind of screwed on creator credit” decades ago despite the ideas being hers [01:26:07]. When asked if she has ever created a show with someone who didn’t get cancelled, Cummings responded, “literally no” [01:27:20].
Harvey Weinstein
Whitney Cummings recalled a time when Harvey Weinstein came to The Comedy Store to see her after she had roasted him [01:36:59]. She chose not to return to the club that night, fearing that seeing her in “that lighting” or with her “personality and eye bags” would ruin the good impression he had of her work [01:38:09]. She jokingly remarked, “I’ve never had a rape problem” [01:36:36], and referenced a joke she wrote for his roast: “Harvey Weinstein has raped so many people, he doesn’t have the clap, he has the applause” [01:36:41].
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers was a trailblazing comedian whose late-night sets are described as “crazy awesome” and full of “joke joke joke” [01:43:32]. She was meant to take over for Johnny Carson, but a falling out occurred when she started her own show on Fox [01:42:50]. This professional setback led to her husband’s suicide [01:42:53].
Other Comedians and Public Figures
- Donald Trump: The host joked about meeting Donald Trump when he was roasted, noting Trump was “dying laughing the whole time” [00:09:10]. After getting off stage, Trump pulled the host close, put his hand on her lower back, and said, “Great television” [00:14:16]. Trump later asked for her number through an agent [01:10:22].
- Alec Baldwin: Whitney Cummings mentioned developing a show where she was cast as Alec Baldwin’s daughter, highlighting her good fortune in avoiding being associated with his subsequent controversies [01:27:32].
- Woody Allen: Woody Allen was cited as an example of a male comedian who discusses his anxiety and depression [01:43:50]. The speaker expressed a dislike for male comedians “bragging about being weak,” calling it “sick” and sexist [01:44:33].
- Dave Chappelle: Whitney Cummings alluded to not wanting to discuss Dave Chappelle again, in reference to his own controversial jokes [00:57:01].
Self-Censorship and Audience Perception
The discussion touched on the self-censorship of some jokes for fear of public reaction. A joke about Joan Rivers booking “Montreal New Faces” every year due to plastic surgery was deemed “too inside comedy” for a general audience and was not used [01:33:51].
There’s also a perception that female comedians must still prove they are funny, whereas male comedians seem to need to prove they are vulnerable or sad [01:43:23]. This implies a different standard for how female comedians are received and the type of content expected from them.