Dave Chappelle, Ricky Gervais, Kevin Hart and numerous other comedians have something in common: They all give stage time to critics.
Let's all take a moment to ask ourselves... why?
First off, here is the incentive they might feel in talking about cancel culture, critics and generally stuff that upsets them:
1. People might relate with what they're saying, and enjoy their show more. Just feels more "real" to some.
2. It lets them vent, blow off some steam, and essentially get paid to do what they would be doing in a therapists' office anyway.
3. Drama often sells. If comedians did not talk about critics, the critics would not be as motivated to spread their message (mind you, distorted & out of context) as well as generally acknowledge the existence of their new special.
4. It's easy to discuss what upsets you. It's the low-hanging fruit of comedy.
Now, of course, the disadvantages...
1. It gives the critics a sense of relevance, value and inflates their ego. Now they feel even better about criticizing you.
2. They almost never actually listen to or give any credit to your response, most critics just want to be angry, as doing so gives them more attention.
3. It is a massive call to all critics to "Please criticize me, I will give you the attention you so desperately crave."
4. It encourages critics to lie about you, take more statements of yours out of context, and do whatever else they can to continue to put you/your name in a bad light, so they may gain even more dopamine hits in their brains.
5. While doing so may give your audience a sense that you are more "authentic", it may alienate you from some of your own audience as well, as your fans more often just want to be happy, and laugh at the funny things you have to say, not listen to you complain.
6. It shows you are weak and can be easily influenced by total strangers.
7. It is, essentially, you, voluntarily handing your power over to a single-angry soul or even a mob of angry people. By giving what they say any attention, you are sharing your success with them, possibly forfeiting it to them.
8. It tarnishes your act, distracting you from your original goals, and ultimately, robs you of your own original inspiration.
9. The first step to getting dethroned from all your hard work, is to give in to the temptation of petty negative emotions. Vices, whether it be drug addiction, abusive behavior or simply feeling sorry for yourself, can destroy the most incredible talents.
10. Much more healthy & deserving people would love your attention, like your fans. Giving it to people who do not like you, over people who do, is a slap in the face to those who love you.
So with the above considered... why do comedians do it? I keep seeing famous/successful people complaining about cancel culture, complaining about angry mobs, complaining about social justice warriors & Karen's all while putting the genre "Comedy" on it when really, all you're discussing, is sad little people who are often too lazy to make something of themselves, so they just try to tare others down hoping that can be a shortcut for themselves to get more likes, more RTs, more attention and maybe even an opportunity to find real success some day. And for what? All, so they can be torn down by another person with a parasitic strategy, just like they originally had.
Critics are cannibals.
Negativity is defeat.
I enjoyed Dave Chappelle more when he was just joking about stupid stuff, I enjoyed Kevin Hart more when he was just telling dumb stories, I enjoyed the majority of comedians when they behaved in a way that led to their mass fame, not like they do now, where they fizzle out and give into social media pressure to essentially, defeat themselves.
Numerous people, including myself, have succumbed to the easy route of giving into your frustration with not having EVERYONE love you, with not being appreciated for your hard work and with people not being honest about what you say/do... but guess what? Complaining about it on stage, in videos, or otherwise having a poor attitude, that will only bring you down to the level of those who never worked for what you worked for.
It's so easy to say you will improve, it's simple to see the best course of action & even plan to rise above every time, but guess what? There's more to being successful than simply promising yourself and others you're going to be your best self and focus on what you love. It takes an entire reinvention of your daily routines, it takes building your own mental fortress, brick by brick, day by day.
Live your life the way you like, and if people who wouldn't know the truth if it smacked them in the face have something bad to say about you? Get back on that stage, tell us the jokes that inspire you/make you happy, and forget them anyway.
When you look back on your life... would you ever regret not giving toxic people any attention?