When Does Comedy Go too Far?

By Craig Mannino

As the world gets closer to the ever present threats of governmental collapse or a nuclear holocaust, and as more and more people rant on Twitter about subjects that nobody really cares about, comedy has become an escape from all things depressing. Jokes ranging from how stupid a friend’s shirt might look to jokes parodying current events are heard on a regular basis. This begs the question: can a joke go too far?

The concise answer to this question is that there is no definitive way to determine when a joke has gone past the point of acceptable. This is mostly due to differing senses of humor among people. Certain topics might offend one person and not 

another. This makes the line between socially acceptable and unsatisfactory blurred and unclear, especially if writing jokes is your job. 

Comedians such as Kathy Griffin have suffered the consequences of taking a joke too far. Griffin came under fire after she took multiple photos featuring a mask that looked like the severed head of Donald Trump, and, subsequently, she lost her job with CNN and her spokeswoman status for Squatty Potty. Griffin’s actions demonstrate how going too far can lead to the loss of fans, fame, or even one’s entire career. 

Louis C.K. is another example of a controversial figure in the comedy world, mostly due to the crude and ill-fitting, but ultimately funny, jokes he tells in every act. Although C.K. has many die-hard fans who enjoy everything he does, in 2015 he was slammed on Twitter for making a child molestation joke while hosting “Saturday Night Live.” Although the fallout from his humor was not nearly as explosive, nor as career-damaging, as that of Kathy Griffin, it can still serve as an example of how carefully comedians must tread when fame, money, and influence are on the line.

Although the comedians mentioned, and many others, suffered consequences as a result of their humor, nearly everyone, including Griffin, who was condemned by even her best fans, still have a dedicated following. Some even have larger and more dedicated followings than the comedians who choose to stay away from controversial jokes or risky topics. 
The dedicated followings of Griffin and C.K. serve as convincing evidence that although it’s fine to be offended at truly abhorrent, provocative jokes, freedom should still be given to those who choose to make such controversial jokes with the intent to make people laugh while doing so.

​The dedicated followings of Griffin and C.K. serve as convincing evidence that although it’s fine to be offended at truly abhorrent, provocative jokes, freedom should still be given to those who choose to make such controversial jokes with the intent to make people laugh while doing so.