‘A joke’s a joke’: Nikki Osborne on why we need to stop cancel culture for comedians

I’m not rallying for people to be arseholes to minorities but at what point did we forget that a joke’s a joke?, writes Nikki Osborne.

There’s no doubt the advent of social media has created a perilous landscape for comedians. Once upon a time, a review of a stand-up show was done by one or two critics, and printed in the paper for one day of critical discussion. So comedians only had to worry about a handful of reviews and if a review was bad, they could just pop it in the litter tray and let their cat defecate over it and move on. However, now, every punter with an account is a critic, and as such, feels it’s their responsibility to critique anyone and anything; like they’re the authority on funny.

I recently saw a post by Ricky Gervais, clutching his Golden Globe with the caption: “I won!” I then noticed a comment from a Facebook friend, who I believe is a welder, saying, “Your stand up is getting stale, perhaps you should consider acting more.” Mate, if we paid a penny for your thoughts we’d want change. Firstly, a congratulations would suffice as it’s a celebration post, and secondly, shut up you ignorant moron.

Now, to my point, yes, Ricky did win the Golden Globe but there’s more to it. He won the war on cancel culture of comedians. To me, that award is a big sign that comedy is making a comeback.

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Ricky Gervais at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California. Picture: Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal Media, LLC via Getty Images

“But there’s always been comedy,” I hear you say. Well, yes, there has been, however over the past seven years, it’s only been comedy that adheres to the strict moral guidelines laid out by a group of pink-haired, angry, latte-swilling lefties. Any comedy that doesn’t fall within the lines of the current political agenda as defined by the social justice warriors, would not be allowed on any TV galas and would be ostracised by certain festivals.

The message was clear: stick to the narrative or you’re out on your ear. You know, like Barry Humphries, who I believe was the greatest trailblazer in the comedy landscape.

He started the Melbourne Comedy Festival and was ultimately shamed and dumped by the festival for a comment that wasn’t in keeping with the current guidelines. Forty years of comedy and one comment has him cancelled.

Columnist Nikki Osborne

Now this is certainly not me rallying for people to be arseholes to minorities but at what point did we forget that a joke’s a joke?!

One of the funniest riffs doing the rounds on the internet right now is a comedian ripping into a blind guy who got a front-row seat. “You idiots! What a waste of a front-row seat! You could’ve just put him in the back and told him it’s the front”!

The blind guy was in stitches, however people on the internet still advocated on behalf of the blind guy saying it was cruel.

They’re witnessing a blind guy having the biggest laugh and still attack the comic. Are they blind too?! All I could see was inclusion and laughter.

In 2018 I debuted a show called Spectrum, which the mob rallied to shut down before it even began. The “critics”, a term I’ll use with a pinch of salt, believed it wasn’t possible to make jokes about autism without punching down. What a dim view of autistic people they must have if they can’t understand the brilliant, beautiful, astonishing, hilarious moments with those on the spectrum. Inclusion is just that, including people. Not shoving them in the taboo, don’t-touch corner. How boring for them.

Also, they’re just jokes. Jim Jefferies always says: “I say what I say to make people laugh, not because I mean it.”

I honestly believe people are starting to embrace subversive comedy again. Not as a religion or moral compass, but for a good, hard belly laugh. And I believe Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globe now grants comedians permission to start telling jokes again without fear, persecution, cancellation or being slapped.

So my question to you is: do you believe comedy is making a comeback and is this a good or dangerous thing?