Why we use people as topics for our jokes — Comedians speak

The world watched with shock and disbelief, the moment in history during the 2022 Oscars, when celebrated Hollywood icon, Will Smith, walked upstage to confront comedy legend, Chris Rock, with a slap that sent shockwaves across the entire planet. Chris Rock had made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s hairstyle, making reference to her role in GI Jane, while asking if there was a sequel in the works. The reference didn’t sit well with Jada, whose hair loss was due to a present struggle with Alopecia Areata, an auto immune condition that she suffers from. Will Smith would immediately walk up stage and slap Chris Rock across the face, while also shouting that Rock keeps his wife’s name out of his mouth. That action has since generated heated conversations and debates across the world about the morality of Chris Rock’s joke, and Smith’s response.

Alopecia Areata is classified as a common autoimmune condition that results in unpredictable hair loss. It is regarded as a common condition among many, and individuals with the disorder might often experience that hair falls out in small patches and in some cases it is extreme and rapid hair loss in patches. Experts also state that some individuals might see complete hair loss on the scalp while in some extreme cases hair fall is seen throughout the body.

Alopecia Areata is not a contagious condition and nor does it directly make people sick through the condition. However, more than the physical health, it is the mental health that gets affected. People with Alopecia Areata need to accept the fact that they will have rapid hair loss and can even go bald.

Whether Chris Rock knew about her condition or not wasn’t clear, but sources claim that Jada had, at various times, complained about Chris Rock’s jokes about her life. Others also opined that while Rock’s joke was distasteful, Will’s reaction was immature and unworthy of his status as a Hollywood icon. Though Will Smith later apologised to the Oscar’s organisers for his outburst when he received his award for his role in a movie and the following day to Chris Rock for his action, many argue that he should have exercised restraint even in face of public provocation, or rather demand an instant apology from Rock. Some worried about the action creating a situation it would embolden audiences against comedians on stage in open confrontations. Other people however, thought otherwise and lauded Will Smith for protecting the image of his family publicly.

In Nigeria, insult comedy or ‘roasting’ is a normal feature during most comedy shows and it is a common sight to hear comedians make members of the audience the focus of the jokes. Nothing is spared as people’s body forms, facial appearances, dressing, handicaps, etc are used as jokes. Usually, the comedian may be familiar with his ‘victim’ and so uses the information at his disposal to his advantage. Celebrities like 2baba and Tungba legend, Dr. Yinka Ayefele are easy targets of many Nigerian comedians. While 2baba is usually chastised for his randiness, Dr. Yinka Ayefele’s handicap is the material for other’s jokes.

Reacting to the Will Smith/Chris Rock debacle, celebrated icon in comedy and MC, Ali Baba, said in his reaction on Monday, ‘Following the recent brouhaha between our American counterparts at the Oscars, it is important that we revise our roles as comedians in this part of the world to avoid unnecessary provocations moving forward.

“As comedians, it is salient that we deliberately, at all times, keep sensitive and demeaning realities off the radar of our materials (jokes), no matter how hilarious we may find such punch lines. The truth is, we often get caught up in the euphoria of spontaneity, which isn’t a bad thing in art. But we must, as a matter of decency and professionalism, not be carried away at the expense of fan’s dysphoria. The society has evolved, so should our craft. Certain things are no longer tolerated in today’s society as they have been found to be suicidal to our existence.

“Jokes about rape, incurable health challenges, body shaming etc may have been overlooked in the past by lovers of the noble art of comedy. But times have changed due to global awareness, thereby leaving many in all manner of depressing conditions, of which love and happiness is all they need to heal. As such, the reasons we comedians are paid are to ease off tension rather than compound them.

“As much as I understand how demanding our job can be, it is important that we consciously stay within the confines of healthy comedy, as going overboard may bring consequences too much to bear. Then, to the fans, clients and lovers of good, proper comedy, it is unfortunate that on many occasions, you choose to hire trends over professionalism in our field (even though I understand your consideration of numbers), which has, often times, though not in all cases, ended in disappointment.”

Speaking to Friday Treat about why comedians use their audience for jokes, another celebrated comedian, Dr Smile said, “We don’t use people but situations. I have noticed one trend and we all share the same experience. If one uses a particular situation, someone in the audience will assume that he/she has been referred to. There are a whole lot of insane acts that occur in this part of the world and the major way that it is being  corrected is through comedy. Comedy has recalibrated many minds for good rather than the damage it is assumed to have caused. One of the best therapies that has healed a lot is comedy.

“Some people only come to events to note down the errors, not the successes. One of the criterias used when a compere is to be  selected in these times and age is the ability to carry the crowd. I’m of the opinion that comedians should be careful about what to say, but the audience should also know that a comedian is talking to make you happy, not to insult. Come to think of it, why do audience laugh when we pick on politicians, economy, the police and take offence when the shot is close?

“It should be known that when you are attending a comedy show, or a comedian is called upon to do his thing, it is with no disrespect for any joke to be made. Although I don’t  subscribe to insulting someone with deep predicaments, knowing  fully well that there’s a thing line between an insult and a joke, the audience should know not to be too sensitive to a joke for the basics of comedy is to see people happy. Some jokes can be below the belt which is bound to happen in any profession (i.e bad eggs exist in every profession be it nursing, police or journalism)”, he said.

Babatunde Ojobaro, a thespian, actor and professional compere, speaking with FRIDAY TREAT, said only entertainers who didn’t know their craft would consider insult comedy to generate laughter/content.

He said, “In my own opinion, sometimes live performances (not exclusive to comedy) might require involving your audience to help break the bridge with the audience. Wole Soyinka called this ‘the fourth bridge’. This is why you sometimes see musicians stretch their mics towards the audience to encourage them to sing along.

“In the instance of comedy, you can also involve the audience to carry along, you can use people as a basis for your jokes and that can be done in so many creative ways. It is all shades of wrong to insult or abuse your audience to generate laughter. In many cases, it may be funny to others but not to the audience who are the subject matter and it coincidentally might be a topic that is sensitive to that person.

“Only comedians who do not really understand in totality what the craft is about think insulting people to generate laughter is cool. Being funny requires deep thoughts, creativity and spontaneity, comedians who lack these skills usually refer to the cheap nauseating ways of generating laughter; in many instances, insults and abuses. You can use people for jokes without insulting or abusing them”.

Shete the comedian and Owomoyela Lawrence however, had different views about the subject. In their reactions to the psychology of comedy, they stressed that using an audience as material or part of a comedians set may not be wrong entirely.

Shete said, “There are times that you have hecklers at shows, hence the reason why some people are used for jokes. Throwing jabs or ‘roasting’ is part of comedy in all honesty.

Agreed, there is a thin line between being funny and being offensive, so everyone has to know the limits. The fundamental thing here is emotional intelligence, especially on the part of the comedian.

“One should be able to read the room, the audience and state of whoever he/she is making a joke about. It sometimes could come out offensive,  as opposed to being funny as was initially intended”.

For Peteru, he believes comedians must remain spontaneous as opposed to being guarded with comments. He said, “I believe it’s about being spontaneous, like a spot on, Buffet point and kill kind of joke which most times there’s a build up to it. It is never planned nor aimed at hurting anyone, but sometimes we just get emotional. Believe me, there are jokes everywhere, our daily lives are filled with potential jokes, that is why we see trends everyday.  Your error today is a comic relief tomorrow, it should not be taken to heart most importantly when it’s coming from loved ones. That is my take”.

Another comedian, Rapindady, disagrees with the narrative that insult comedy may be utilised as part of a comedian’s performance. In his chat with the Friday Treat, he said,

“A comedian must be sensitive to the fact that people deal with their pains in various unbearable ways. Making a joke about someone in a wheelchair for instance, right in front of him, is unacceptable.

“When you are on stage (as a comedian), the goal is not only to be funny but an opportunity to be relatable and prove that you have common sense. It is an opportunity to prove that you are educated,  reasonable and that  you have power in your mouth to heal a shattered heart”.

A psychologist, Marian Oluade, spoke about why everyone needs to be sensitive to the mental health of one another. In a phone conversation with Friday Treat, she said that entertainers must be sensitive to their audiences, because most times, the jokes make meaning hours after the event and could trigger depression in the person made fun of.

She said, “Many times, the jokes sink and make meaning long after it has been said to the people who had been ‘insulted’ jokingly and could trigger bouts of anger or depression. It is important for comedians to always be sensitive and avoid derogatory comments about their audience because no one can guess who the recipient may react. In Will Smith’s case, I think there are underlying issues that he must be going through especially with his wife’s ailment. His reaction is a pointer to that. While he might have acted in the heat of the moment without evaluating the consequences, his action should be considered a call for help”.

With the varied reactions from respondents, it is imperative to understand that people generally must be sensitive to other people’s plights, situations and mental health especially when making comments, public or private, because like was seen on the Oscar’s stage, those concerned may be triggered to react in ways that may be demeaning or unacceptable to the society.