Comedy can lift people’s spirits, but it can also cause real harm. With the rise of cancel culture, many are rethinking what jokes are acceptable. Dave Chappelle’s recent comedy special sparked controversy because some of his jokes were seen as cruel or homophobic by the LGBTQ community and its supporters.
Comedy is often bold, shocking, and even sarcastic. Many say comedians do not truly believe the things they joke about. But where do we draw the line?
Actor Wil Wheaton has previously explained how to separate the artist from their work. This time, however, he is focusing on the content itself and why it can be damaging.
Wheaton shared a story from his teenage years to help explain his strong reaction to jokes that target transgender people. He said, “For anyone who doesn’t understand why I feel so strongly about people like Chappelle making transphobic comments that are passed off as jokes, I want to share a story. I hope it helps you understand my reaction.”
Wheaton began by recalling when he was 16 and played ice hockey. One night, he was a guest goalie for a team. After practice, he joined his teammates in the locker room.
Before telling what happened next, Wheaton reflected on how much he loved comedy growing up. He mentioned Eddie Murphy’s 1983 special Delirious as one of his favorites. “It had bits that still make me laugh,” Wheaton said.
But the special also had long sections of harsh homophobic jokes. Murphy repeatedly used a slur for gay men. As a young white boy from a privileged background, Wheaton thought these jokes were funny and edgy. “I didn’t know any better,” he admitted. “I accepted the message that gay men were somehow less than straight men and were always good for a joke.”
This shaped Wheaton’s early views. “For much of my teen years, I was embarrassingly homophobic,” he said. “And it started with that comedy special.”
Back in the locker room, Wheaton said the conversation was typical sports talk about great plays. But then, without thinking, he used the offensive slur.
“The room went silent,” Wheaton recalled. “I realized every guy there was gay. They played for a team called The Blades. I had really messed up.”
One player asked Wheaton gently, “Do you have any gay friends?”
Wheaton, feeling ashamed, lied. “Yes,” he said, “and they say that all the time.” He wanted to disappear. “I wanted to apologize, but I was a scared, proud 16-year-old. So, I lied.”
The player responded quietly, “They must not love themselves very much.”
No one said more after that. Wheaton felt terrible. He packed his things and left as quickly as he could.
“That was over 30 years ago,” Wheaton said, “and I think about it often. I’m still mortified and regretful. I said something hurtful out of ignorance, but I said it because I believed the harmful jokes I had heard.”
Wheaton emphasized that much of this attitude was normalized by entertainment that dehumanized gay men for laughs. He accepted it because no one was mocking him that way.
Regarding Chappelle’s recent jokes, Wheaton explained, “For transgender people, those ‘jokes’ support hateful and ignorant attitudes. They contribute to a world where transgender people face constant threats of violence because society has accepted their dehumanization.”
He added, “Almost every queer person I know is hurt by Chappelle’s actions. When they say this hurts them, I will listen and support them.”
Wheaton’s story highlights an important issue. While comedy can push boundaries, dehumanizing jokes can cause real damage. We need to ask ourselves if hurting others is worth the sake of a joke. The answer, many hope, is no.
