Comedian Daniel Tosh recently became the target of a media firefight after a performance at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. While the exact details are unclear, the primary claim is that Tosh crossed a line while performing his set by making light of rape and rape jokes.
Comedian Daniel Tosh recently became the target of a media firefight after a performance at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. While the exact details are unclear, the primary claim is that Tosh crossed a line while performing his set by making light of rape and rape jokes.
Here’s where the situation gets sticky. There’s no consensus on how Tosh got started on the topic. The club owner said an audience member brought it up, while others say Tosh initiated the conversation. According to the online blog Cookies for Breakfast, Tosh started “making some very generalizing, declarative statements about rape jokes always being funny, how can a rape joke not be funny, rape is hilarious, etc.”
A female audience member responded by saying, “Actually, rape is never funny.”
According to the blogger, Tosh said, “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by like five guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…”
In stand up comedy culture, hecklers are people who yell out during an act, and it is the comic’s duty to shut the person down and continue the act. Tosh fired back at the heckler in an attempt to divert the attention back to him, but he handled the situation in the worst way possible: going straight for the jugular in a pretty ham-fisted fashion.
Rape is a tough topic. Period. Bringing it up in any public forum, including comedic acts, requires at least a modicum of discretion. It evokes strong emotional responses.
At a time when statistics of rape are high, tact is a necessary skill. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network reported in 2003 that one in 10 men has been a victim of rape and one in six women has been victimized. Rape is considered by many to be the most underreported crime in the U.S., and many live in fear of becoming a victim of it.
Comedians should push the boundaries but be fully aware of the backlash when they take it a step too far. While Tosh isn’t protected in the court of taste, he is legally protected by the First Amendment. The same law that allows me to express my distaste for Tosh’s joke (as well as my hatred of Nickelback) also guarantees Tosh the right to say whatever he wants in the name of “comedy.”
Given that Tosh has the ability to say whatever venomous thing pops into his head, he should also have the ability to accept criticism when he falters in his comedic pursuits. Tosh’s “apology” after the incident was short and unaffected, but it’s clear that he’s considering the consequences of his actions. He’s removing all the rape jokes from his upcoming TV pilot. My Spidey sense suspects only remnants of a script will remain after the edits, given his usual subject matter.
The comedian should work to subvert the status quo and critique society’s problems. A good comedian should make us laugh and think at the same time. A great comedian should guide us through the darkest of topics and bring us out feeling smarter and more powerful.
Tosh, in this situation, failed at all of these goals. His “joke” was in bad taste and did nothing but provoke a negative response. He was mean-hearted and angry, and his comments clearly reflect that. The comedy world is tough, and perhaps Tosh should take a step back and reconsider his behavior.
While comedians shouldn’t be censored, this is a reminder that we have control, as consumers, to draw the line. Those who don’t like Tosh should take action and stop buying his albums, watching his show and going to his comedy performances. If Tosh can’t clean up his act, we’ll clean out his wallet.
