Who Is Censoring Comedians? And Why?

This website was created to educate people on the important topic of censorship, particularly when it comes to comedians. What you will find here is all of information needed to understand why comedy is censored and what the various sources of comedic censorship are. It is important to note that for the purposes of this website, we will be using the Merriam-Webster dictionary's definition of censorship which is  “to examine in order to inhibit or delete anything considered objectionable.''

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Public criticism of comedians is no new phenomena. Ever since comedians gained prominence in society there has been an effort by various groups to suppress them. From Lenny Bruce to Kevin Hart, and George Carlin to Sarah Silverman, comedians from all generations have been criticized and have seen their work become censored because of their "explicit" routines. Material that was intended to make people happy and laugh turned into something considered obsene and unacceptable.

 

A simple question arises- Why? What is it about the routines that people find so offensive? What threat do censurers conceive these comedians to be? The answer, on the other hand, is not so simple. There is a plethora of reasons that individuals and groups find comedians and their routines to be offensive. George Carlin, for example, was criticized (and even arrested) for using indecent language in one of his routines. This came to a head when a man contacted the FCC complaining that he his young son were listening to the routine, and were forced to hear the vulgar language. In this case, listeners objected to the offensive words used by Carlin.

 

With advancements in technology, it is even easier for people to voice their displeasure with comedians. Social media sites like Twitter offer users the ability to hold comedians accountable for comments they made at any time. Kevin Hart was crushed on social media this past year for offensive jokes he made eight years ago on Twitter, which ultimately forced him to step down from hosting the Oscars.

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But social media is just one source for comedic censorship. But what are the other sources? Well, one source is politicians and governments. In most countries, politicians need the people they govern to support them. When comedians use their platform to criticize or even mock them, it can be seen as a threat to their power. That is why the President of the United States, Donald Trump, is critical of comedians who mock him, and has made it clear that he would prefer that individuals such as Stephen Colbert and comedy shows like Saturday Night Live are discontinued. 

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Then there is another major source of criticism and censorship, and that is college campuses. Comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock have vowed to never perform in colleges anymore. They claim that the people there are extremely sensitive to anything even slightly controversial. Comedians argue that  due to the sensitivities of the students there is nothing they can joke about.  

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This website serves the purpose of informing readers as to why comedy is criticized and censored in different settings. We invite you to read our different "Argument" pages to learn more about this important topic.