The Big Story: Who’s allowed to joke about what?

Is it possible to be funny without offending someone?

Like most other corners of the entertainment industry, comedy has been undergoing a shift at the hands of the #MeToo movement since last October. Louis CK, Jeremy Piven and Aziz Ansari are just a few of the powerful comics who were accused of sexual misconduct and forced out of the spotlight (even if only for a short while) to think about what they did or didn’t do.

On the heels of that shift, women and people of colour and LGBTQ folks have started to call for comedy that is safer and tailored to a wider audience. Simply put, these groups want comedy made for them-not just white, cis-gendered men.

The debate is ongoing and divisive and almost every comic has a strong answer one way or the other. Is it OK to joke about sexual assault? Is it only OK if victims of sexual assault are the ones making the jokes?

Is comedy still the same if some things are off the table? Or can it actually be better for having had that discussion? Freelance entertainment writer (and associate editor of the Big Story podcast) Meghan Collie explains how the industry is changing, whether we like it or not.

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“I think what’s different about comedy is the actual content of this entertainment is jokes,” says Collie. “So, when years ago, rumours were swirling about Louis CK acting inappropriately sexually, when he made jokes about that on stage, nobody took it seriously… because it was his job to make people laugh.”

“But when it came out that he had acted inappropriately in front of at least five women, nobody was surprised.”

She thinks it’s increasingly important for the content of a stand-up act to correlate with the person delivering it.

“It never bothered anybody when Dave Chappelle or Daniel Tosh were finding fame if they made jokes about rape, sexual assault, racism, sexism, or any of these kind of hot-button topics now. But now that the #MeToo movement has really come to the forefront, I think it really matters what your identity is and what you are talking about when you are making jokes.”

She says it wasn’t until July that Just For Laughs rolled out a new policy. “A zero-tolerance sexual harassment policy, as they call it. It defines prohibited behaviours, unwanted sexual propositions, remarks of a sexual nature.”

The policy does not speak to the content of stand-up acts.

“I think it would be controversial of JFL tried to actually control the content of what’s happening on stage,” says Collie. “But I don’t think people are asking for them to control the content. I think they’re asking the organization to take a stronger stand against sexual assault.”

She notes at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, there were clear signs that things were changing.

“The CEO was very adamant about putting up signage that stated their sexual assault policy all over the festival. Everybody who came through TIFF’s doors… had to sign a waiver, saying they would not engage in any inappropriate behaviour — and if they were found out to be doing so, they would be removed immediately.”

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How do performers feel the #MeToo movement has affected the content of their acts?

Collie says most performers she’s spoken with have said they feel more pressure to make jokes that are appropriate. “I think that this is a controversial topic.”

“Some comedians — mostly women, LGBTQ folks, non-binary folks, people of colour… the marginalized communities — I think they feel the increased awareness about what’s appropriate, coming from whom, is awesome. It makes spaces safer and it makes comedy better. It challenges comedy to be a little bit smarter.”

On the other hand, Collie thinks many comedians are afraid of censorship because they worry it will force “good comedy” underground. “And that it will scare good comedians off from talking about the issues.”

“I think what marginalized communities in comedy are looking for is just not bad jokes at the expense of their identities. They’re not saying people can’t make those jokes — they absolutely can and will continue to until the end of time, I think. The movement we’re seeing is that people want smarter comedy that is less hinged on identity politics and… more welcoming to all types of people.”

Collie says as a comedy fan, she’s not a fan of the likes of Chappelle or Tosh. “I think the reason is they get up there and they talk about certain situations that make me uncomfortable. I don’t find them funny. I find them actually quite depressing.”

But should comedy be kept “safe”?

Collie points to Jerry Seinfeld.

“He has been really outspoken about being disappointed about the trajectory of comedy because he doesn’t think there’s a space for censorship. He even said that he wouldn’t play college campuses because they’re too PC and he’s afraid of saying something sensitive and being pinned to it for life.

“I don’t think the right way to go about improving comedy is to say there’s a list of things that are now just off topics forever. I think it’s just pushing back a little bit and asking for a little bit more.”

Collie also references Tosh once pointing out a girl and making a joke about her being attacked. “Wouldn’t it be funny if this girl… got raped right now? That actually happened.”

“My issue with it is it’s not smart. It’s not pushing back. It’s not holding up a mirror to society. That’s just Daniel Tosh hoping that his outlandish remark that nobody says will get some cheap laughs. I’m not saying ‘never joke about sexual assault again.’ I’m just saying there’s a time, a place, and a way to do it that can be smart and productive.”

She adds it also matters who delivers the joke.

As an example, she says, “I think it would be a ‘better’ joke if it came from a trans person, if it’s about a trans experience, because they’re just going to know it better.”

“In the same way, I would be able to make a really spot-on joke about being a woman.”

She believes this is part of a bigger topic of freedom of speech vs hate speech. “That whole conversation about who is allowed to talk about what. But in comedy… people are there to laugh. So, really, if you’re not landing the laughs, you’re not doing your job.”

“I think it’s especially divisive because some comic think they can still go up on stage and joke about stuff they don’t know about. I’m of the personal opinion is society is progressing and as society progresses, so should comedy.”