“Monty Python” alumnus <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-john-cleese-slams-wokes-and-the-current-thrill-of-being-offended">John Cleese</a> blasted the current cancel culture and said when a person sets &#8220;out to get someone fired … that&#8217;s very totalitarian.&#8221;
Speaking to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfDBTpAzV4U">Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression group’s</a> Greg Lukianoff, the host asked the legendary comedian about the evolution of cancel culture, from when audiences freaked out over topics in his 1979 film “The Life of Brian” to now. 
“What I experienced [then] was people who were upset and offended by things,” the 84-year-old comedian said. “And once or twice, I’ve done things that afterwards I felt that I’ve crossed the line and thought I shouldn’t have done that. But people would get upset and complain to the BBC or something like that.”
“Or they might get up and walk out of the show,” he added. “The thing about Cancel Culture is, it seems to be very organized. And it’s not just protest. It’s trying to get people fired. I don’t mind people protesting, that’s fine. But if you set out to get someone fired … that’s very totalitarian.”
“The enemy of creativity is interruption,” Cleese continued. “And interruptions can come from inside, as well as outside. And if the moment you think of something you think, ‘Ooh, will that offend someone?,’ you’ve interrupted yourself and it will stop the creative flow.”
The “A Fish Called Wanda” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-goes-viral-after-tweeting-about-unfair-advantage-biological-men-have-in-womens-sports">star</a> said “all moments” in his life “that have been important in forming” his personality &#8220;came when I suddenly had a realization that something I believed wasn’t the case.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
John Cleese on Cancel Culture: An ‘Organized … Totalitarian’ Movement <a href="https://t.co/HHPkkaIEGU">https://t.co/HHPkkaIEGU</a>
— MRC NewsBusters (@newsbusters) <a href="https://twitter.com/newsbusters/status/1782088168923160972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
He said none of that would’ve happened if he had to deal with people around him “saying you mustn’t think like that.” Cleese said that you’ve got to “ignore the people who are trying to stop you from learning something new.”
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“A lot of people are very frightened of getting fired, and that’s awful, getting fired,” he added. “There’s good and bad in all of us, and the moment you think you’re more perfect than you are, then that’s trouble. … And that’s why all this virtue signaling is so foolish now … they also need to know they have a nasty streak, too, because we all have.”
The famed British comedian has been very outspoken in the past about cancel culture, labeling the “wokes” the new “authoritarians,” as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beware-the-wokes-monty-python-alum-defends-new-show-tackling-cancel-culture-and-new-authoritarians">previously reported</a>.
“Like all people who believe that are purer than they actually are, they are authoritarians,” Cleese previously <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1579397566655262720?s=20&amp;t=uUR-qN7yGJAx40uWiVuwFA">tweeted</a>. “Which is why all the best comedians make fun of them.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beware-the-wokes-monty-python-alum-defends-new-show-tackling-cancel-culture-and-new-authoritarians">&#8216;Beware The &#8216;Wokes&#8221; : &#8216;Monty Python&#8217; Alum Defends New Show Tackling &#8216;Cancel Culture&#8217; And New &#8216;Authoritarians&#8217;</a>

Pendulum Summit In Dublin – Day 2

‘Totalitarian’: ‘Monty Python’ Star John Cleese Blasts Cancel Culture

‘Totalitarian’: 'Monty Python’ Star John Cleese Blasts Cancel Culture

Cancel Culture

Celebrities

Comedy

Entertainment

John Cleese

Wokeness

World

The man who shot former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ronald-reagan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ronald Reagan</a> in the early 1980s said in an interview this week that he is a victim of cancel culture.
John Hinckley Jr., who spent years confined to a mental hospital for trying to murder Reagan, was freed from all restrictions in 2022.
The 68-year-old has tried to become a singer since gaining his freedom, but has had numerous planned concerts canceled by venues because the businesses do not want controversy.
“I think that’s fair to say: I’m a victim of cancel culture,” he <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/03/20/us-news/john-hinckley-jr-claims-he-is-a-victim-of-cancel-culture-after-concert-called-off/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> in an interview with the New York Post. “It keeps happening over and over again.”
“They book me and then the show gets announced and then the venue starts getting backlash,” he claimed. “The owners always cave, they cancel. It’s happened so many times, it’s kinda what I expect. I don’t really get upset.”
He claimed that he was not the same person that he used to be and that he did not want to &#8220;dwell on the past.&#8221;
“I’m just caught up in the cancel culture, I guess,” he complained. “It would be a venue for new artists, distinguished artists and they wouldn’t get canceled [at] the last minute like I’m getting canceled.”
Hinckley shot Reagan on March 30, 1981, just 69 days after his inauguration. Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., at around 2:30 p.m. after having given a speech to about 5,000 members of the AFL-CIO when Hinckley opened fire with a .22 revolver.
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Hinckley <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-hinckley-jr-the-now-free-man-who-tried-to-assassinate-president-ronald-reagan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fired six shots</a> at Reagan and his security team. One bullet ricocheted off of Reagan’s limousine and struck the president under his left arm, according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. It was initially thought that Hinckley missed Reagan, until the president began coughing up blood and was taken to the hospital. It was later discovered that the bullet grazed one of the president’s ribs and became lodged in his rib just one inch from his heart. The injury left Reagan with a punctured lung and internal bleeding, resulting in a 12-day hospital stay.
Also injured in the attack were Press Secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy, and policeman Thomas Delahanty. Brady was hit in the head and became permanently disabled, requiring a wheelchair for the rest of his life and affecting his speech. He died on August 4, 2014, with a medical examiner ruling his death a homicide resulting from Hinckley’s gunshot 33 years earlier.
Delahanty was struck in the back of his neck trying to protect Reagan, while McCarthy was struck in the abdomen. Both men survived and fully recovered.
Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity and confined to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. One of his attorneys, Greg Craig, went on to become assistant to the President and White House special counsel under Bill Clinton and White House counsel under President Barack Obama. In 2019, he was indicted for lying to federal prosecutors about his work at a private law firm for the former president of Ukraine without registering as a foreign agent.
By 2011, Hinckley was allowed to leave the hospital for several days at a time to visit family in Virginia. In 2012, therapists in Virginia withdrew a plan that would allow Hinckley to leave the hospital and live full-time with his mother. At the time, the Department of Justice said Hinckley hadn’t changed and should remain in the hospital. Four years later, in 2016, Hinckley was released from St. Elizabeth’s to live with his mother and gain more privileges.
In September 2021, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman announced that Hinckley would be fully released without conditions if he continued to show he was “no longer a danger to himself or others,” the Associated Press reported. Hinckley was granted his freedom without any restrictions on June 15, 2022.
Ashe Schow contributed to this report.

US-MUSIC-POLITICS-HINCKLEY

Man Who Tried To Assassinate Ronald Reagan Claims He’s A Victim Of ‘Cancel Culture’

assassination

Crime

Ronald Reagan

U.S.

A Seattle comedy club abruptly canceled four comedians&#8217; shows, citing the neighborhood&#8217;s &#8220;progressive values.&#8221;
Capitol Hill Comedy Bar dropped shows from April to October for comedians Dave Smith, Luis Gomez, Jim Florentine, and Kurt Metzger.
Two of the comedians, Florentine and Metzger, shared the email they said they received from the comedy club informing them their shows were canceled.
The club called it a &#8220;challenging situation&#8221; and said it considered the matter with investors, local comedians, and neighborhood advocacy groups.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I guess I need to clean up my act. My comedy shows in Seattle are cancelled along with <a href="https://twitter.com/luisjgomez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@luisjgomez</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ComicDaveSmith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ComicDaveSmith</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/kurtmetzger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kurtmetzger</a>.
After careful consideration and discussions with our team, investors, local comedians, and neighborhood advocacy groups, we&#39;ve encountered a…
&mdash; Jim Florentine (@Mrjimflorentine) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mrjimflorentine/status/1761071406467473577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I’m sorry, but this is too funny not to immediately put on blast! Also, am I mistaken that this club is in Seattle’s historic “CHAZ” district? (Kurt looks up toward heaven.) THANK U GEORGE FLOYD! For the fun Im about to have with this on Twitter after I take a quick shit! BRB! <a href="https://t.co/K4gGSGoPkW">pic.twitter.com/K4gGSGoPkW</a>
&mdash; Kurt Metzger (@kurtmetzger) <a href="https://twitter.com/kurtmetzger/status/1760824699624505541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Capitol Hill is known for its progressive values, and we&#8217;ve received significant feedback expressing concerns about the alignment of these upcoming shows with the neighborhood&#8217;s ethos. This feedback includes concerns from local advocacy groups that are deeply embedded in our community and work towards upholding its values,&#8221; the comedy club wrote in the email. &#8220;This decision was not made lightly, and we want to ensure it does not reflect on your talent and the quality of your work but is instead a reflection of our commitment to our community&#8217;s values.&#8221;
The club added that it would refund people&#8217;s tickets for these events and promised that &#8220;we truly value the art of comedy and the diverse perspectives it brings.&#8221;
&#8220;I guess I need to clean up my act,&#8221; Florentine posted Friday on X.
Metzger expressed how hilarious he found the decision.
&#8220;I’m sorry, but this is too funny not to immediately put on blast!&#8221; Metzger posted Thursday on X.
&#8220;Also, am I mistaken that this club is in Seattle’s historic “CHAZ” district? (Kurt looks up toward heaven.) THANK U GEORGE FLOYD! For the fun Im about to have with this on Twitter&#8230;,&#8221; the comedian added.
The comedy club is located in the former Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) area of Seattle, the six-block area leftist anti-police protesters barricaded and declared &#8220;autonomous&#8221; after George Floyd died in police custody in 2020.
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Gomez commented on his podcast that it is &#8220;the right of any business&#8221; not to book him but called the comedy club &#8220;super woke.&#8221;
“Are they idiots for booking us and then unbooking us? Yes, it’s a dumb move. Is my former agent an idiot for booking me at a super woke progressive venue that like the entire lineup is like f***ing blue-haired f***ing freaks?” Gomez <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Supg09fMTgI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
He added that another factor could be &#8220;young, jealous&#8221; local comics.
&#8220;This is what happens when comics don&#8217;t have anything going on. They just look for drama,&#8221; Gomez said.

Comedy show neon template. Comedy lettering and glowing neon microphone

Seattle Comedy Club Cancels 4 Comedians Over ‘Progressive Values’

Seattle Comedy Club Cancels 4 Comedians Over 'Progressive Values'

Business

canceled

Seattle

Social Issues

Washington

People slammed Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters as an anti-Semite long before the Oct. 7 attacks triggered a wave of Jewish hate across the globe.
Waters, the band’s co-founder and a still-active rocker at 80, has walked a razor-thin line over the years between criticizing Israel and attacking the people who call the nation home.
He may have crossed said line even for his staunchest defenders.
Waters recently spoke out against fellow rock icon Bono of U2 fame. The Irish superstar reacted swiftly to the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas which killed 1,200 people and kidnapped hundreds more.
Rape. Torture. Beheadings.
The news accounts proved so grisly Bono addressed them from, where else, a concert stage mere hours after the attacks. 
<div id="attachment_700475" style="width: 940px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-700475" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-700475" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1709324578-930x576.jpg" alt="LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)" width="930" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1709324578-930x576.jpg 930w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1709324578-300x186.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1709324578-768x476.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1709324578.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px" />Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation</div>
He paid particular attention to Hamas’ assault on a music festival dedicated to peace by tweaking the band’s ‘80s smash, “Pride (In the Name of Love).”
<a href="https://americansongwriter.com/u2-reworks-pride-to-pay-homage-to-those-killed-by-terrorists-at-israeli-music-festival/">The altered lyrics?</a>
From: &#8220;Early morning, April four / Shots ring out in the Memphis sky / Free at last, they took your life / they could not take your pride.&#8221;
To: &#8220;Early morning, October 7th / As the sun is rising in the desert sky / Stars of David, they took your life / But they could not take your pride.&#8221;
<blockquote>In the light of what’s happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence…But our hearts and our anger, you know where that’s pointed. So sing with us…and those beautiful kids at that music festival.</blockquote>
The band shared the concert clip via its social media accounts. How could anyone object to U2’s tribute, which wasn’t aggressive, only heartfelt? What possible argument could be lobbied against it? Shouldn’t musicians be particularly outraged by a terrorist attack on a concert?
Tell that to Waters.
He spat out his disgust for what Bono said on <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/program/the-stream/2024/2/17/roger-waters-on-gaza-resistance-and-doing-the-right-thing-2">Al Jazeera TV</a>:
<blockquote>Anybody who knows Bono should go and pick him up by his ankles and shake him until he stops being a [giant] s*** &#8230; we have to start speaking to these people and saying, ‘Your opinion is so disgusting and degrading, when you stand up for the Zionist entity…’
What he did in the Sphere in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, singing about the Stars of David, was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen in my life.</blockquote>
Remember, Waters is an 80-year-old man.
If that rhetoric came as an isolated outburst some may be willing to forgive if not forget. Except it’s part of a pattern, one that leaves less and less doubt of Waters’ intentions.
<div id="attachment_700477" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-700477" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-700477" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1496485220-864x576.jpg" alt="LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 06: Roger Waters performs on stage at The O2 Arena during the 'This is Not A Drill' tour, on June 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1496485220-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1496485220-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1496485220-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1496485220.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jim Dyson/Getty Images</div>
We saw something similar late last year when he sat down for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-WSb23wdLI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an interview</a> with independent journalist Glenn Greenwald roughly a month after Hamas’ savagery.
<blockquote>Let’s wait and see what happened, was my first reaction [to the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks]. My second reaction was — how the hell did the Israelis not know this was going to happen? There’s something very fishy about that.</blockquote>
There’s no proof the Israeli government knew such an attack was coming. It’s hard to imagine any government would allow that kind of atrocity to be perpetuated on its people for political purposes.
Greenwald pressed Waters on whether he thought the Oct. 7 attacks were “justified.”
<blockquote>We don’t know what they did do. But was it justified for them to resist the occupation? Yeah.</blockquote>
We knew fairly quickly what Hamas did. The terrorists filmed much of their barbaric acts on GoPro-style cameras, smartphones, and other devices, eager for the world to witness their barbarism. Journalists and <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12732767/israel-screening-hamas-terror-attack-october-7.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hollywood dwellers</a> got to see a montage of the clips shortly after Oct. 7.
Canadian journalist Matt Gurney <a href="https://thepostmillennial.com/just-about-the-worst-thing-ive-ever-seen-canadian-journalist-reacts-to-footage-of-hamas-october-7-massacre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called the footage</a> &#8220;just about the worst thing I have ever seen.&#8221;
Waters also <a href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/1699350277-roger-waters-says-israelis-making-up-stories-about-october-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">downplayed</a> the fact that Israeli citizens were targeted in the melee.
<blockquote>The thing was thrown out of all proportion by the Israelis making up stories about beheading babies.</blockquote>
No one has credibly disputed that 1,200 people that day, or that the terrorist group kidnapped men, women, senior citizens and even toddlers following the attacks.
Waters’ ex-bandmate David Gilmour made up his mind a while ago on whether Waters harbors hate against Jewish people. Last year, Gilmour used his X account to promote the documentary “The Dark Side of Roger Waters,” a film accusing the singer of anti-Jewish sentiments.
The film, from the Campaign Against Antisemitism, featured <a href="https://consequence.net/2023/10/david-gilmour-roger-waters-antisemitic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first-person accounts by Jewish musicians</a> who worked with Waters – Norbert Stachel and Bob Ezrin &#8211; who claimed they heard him utter anti-Semitic comments.
Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson, added fuel to the fire by saying Waters was “antisemitic to [his] rotten core.”
All of this comes after Waters’ infamous stage antics where he performed under an inflatable pig emblazoned with <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N37X0TS/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Star of David</a> and strode across the stage wearing a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-police-investigate-roger-waters-nazi-style-costume-concert-2023-05-26/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nazi-like uniform</a>. The latter, he said, was his way of opposing fascism and bigotry.
The most intriguing part of it all? We’ve seen actors face professional blowback recently for sharing anti-Israeli comments, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/susan-sarandon-dropped-by-agency-after-her-anti-semitic-remarks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon</a>. Cancel Culture also erased Roseanne Barr&#8217;s career for a horrid Tweet.
Waters, on the other hand, has endured few repercussions for his chronic words and actions.
City Council members in Frankfurt, Germany, briefly stopped a planned May 2023 concert by the rocker, declaring that Waters “repeatedly called for a cultural boycott of Israel and drew comparisons to the apartheid regime in South Africa and put pressure on artists to cancel events in Israel.”
<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/roger-waters-canceled-frankfurt-rescheduled-court-ruling-1235315712/">A court overruled the decision</a>.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

MixCollage-22-Feb-2024-02-05-PM-9790

Roger Waters Removes All Doubt, Blasts Bono For Honoring Victims Of Oct. 7 Massacre

Anti-Semitism

Bono

Gaza

Hamas

Israel

Music

Readers Pass

Spotify superstar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-rogan">Joe Rogan</a> is a man’s man in the classic sense of the phrase.
The comedian loves hunting, eating red meat, and combat sports. He’s been part of the UFC revolution for more than 20 years, providing color commentary for some of the sport’s biggest matches.
He looks as wide as he is tall, and it’s all muscle, not fat. So why does he attract so many female listeners?
<div id="attachment_693389" style="width: 826px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-693389" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-693389" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1440840074-816x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 11: Joe Rogan is seen on stage during the UFC 281 ceremonial weigh-in at Radio City Music Hall on November 11, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)" width="816" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1440840074-816x576.jpg 816w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1440840074-300x212.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1440840074-768x542.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1440840074.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px" />Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC</div>
A <a href="https://business.yougov.com/content/47483-whos-listening-to-the-joe-rogan-experience-men-mostly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023 YouGov poll</a> found that Rogan’s podcast fan base leans younger and male.
No surprise there given the show’s content, Rogan’s personal interests, and the crush of male guests. He also curses like the proverbial sailor sans apology.
Yet <a href="https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/joe-rogan-renews-spotify-deal-not-exclusive-1235895424/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety’s announcement</a> of Rogan’s Spotify contract extension included this nugget:
<blockquote>Per Edison Research’s Q3 2023 survey of most listened-to podcasts, “The Joe Rogan Experience” ranked No. 1 for the period. In addition, “JRE” was the No. 2 most listened-to podcast for women 13 and older in the U.S., according to Edison.</blockquote>
Number two. And it’s not for lack of female-centric podcasts or alternatives across the pop culture landscape. And that includes true crime podcasts, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/13/why-are-women-falling-asleep-to-true-crime-podcasts-and-tv-shows.html#:~:text=%22My%20research%20shows%20that%20women,what%20to%20do%20if%20kidnapped." target="_blank" rel="noopener">audio catnip for many women</a>.
Turns out women love Rogan, too. But why?
<div id="attachment_693165" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-693165" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-693165" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/JRAR-1024x576.jpg" alt="Joe Rogan Aaron Rodgers" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/JRAR-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/JRAR-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/JRAR-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/JRAR-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/JRAR-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: Joe Rogan Experience</div>
Rogan is unapologetically male at a time when pop culture suggests that’s off limits. So-called “toxic masculinity” must be called out and avoided at all costs.
That message got through to Rogan.
“It’s become a disparaged term, to be a man,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoE_VJ0UopM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rogan said in an undated clip</a> from his podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
“We are now around soft men and hard times. We’re in a time of ‘<a href="https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/peterson-rogan-tate-the-cult-toxic-masculinity-3129491" target="_blank" rel="noopener">toxic masculinity’</a> where you can be toxically male,” he said <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Za3RPE9uc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in another talk</a> on the subject. “And if you’re suppressing masculinity, you’re going to bring on hard times.”
He dug deeper into the phrase last year with <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/podcasts/joe-rogan-goes-after-critics-who-believe-toxic-masculinity-is-an-indictment-of-all-men-thats-crazy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“The Punisher” star Jon Bernthal</a>.
<blockquote>There’s no term toxic femininity, right? But there’s toxic human beings, and some of them happen to be male and some of them happen to be female … but it’s not an indictment on male, you know, the male gender of the species. That’s crazy.</blockquote>
Rogan’s unabashedly male persona connects with his female flock.
It’s not unlike how women swoon over the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce courtship. The couple represents an old-school romance, the prettiest girl at the prom and the gridiron hero scoring touchdowns for his sweetie.
Podcaster Karol Markowicz noticed a recent viral moment when Kelce moved past a security guard to open a car door for his squeeze during a Big Apple date. The video swiftly got shared far and wide, with Markowicz noting how women swooned over his old-fashioned manners.
They’re playing out their gender roles to a T, sans apology. And so, too, is Rogan. Women reacted to Kelce’s Alpha Male move, much like they long for Rogan’s podcast brand.
<div id="attachment_646243" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-646243" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-646243" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Screen-Shot-2023-11-01-at-4.20.43-AM-1024x574.png" alt="Elon Musk" width="1024" height="574" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Screen-Shot-2023-11-01-at-4.20.43-AM-1024x574.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Screen-Shot-2023-11-01-at-4.20.43-AM-300x168.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Screen-Shot-2023-11-01-at-4.20.43-AM-768x431.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Screen-Shot-2023-11-01-at-4.20.43-AM-1536x861.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Screen-Shot-2023-11-01-at-4.20.43-AM-2048x1148.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: Joe Rogan Experience</div>
When Cancel Culture came calling Rogan stood his ground. He apologized for using the N-word in the past, although never against a person of color in a derogatory way and carried on his show and career. The press piled on, too, shaping everything Rogan did or said as “controversial” or “problematic.” 
He ignored the attacks, understanding his fans didn’t believe the false narratives against him. Plus, he kept on challenging authority, promoting his professional and personal interests as if the woke mob never knocked on his door.
That’s courage in 21st-century America, and Rogan’s alpha male instincts served him well. Thus the new Spotify deal, reportedly worth up to $250 million.
Men appreciate Rogan as much for his content as his attitude toward their gender. He preaches discipline, much like Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, connecting with disaffected young males hungry for a father figure.
Alpha Males don’t wait for opportunities to knock on their door. They break the door down and make it happen.
<div id="attachment_693413" style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-693413" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-693413" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1137862413-720x576.jpg" alt="PASADENA, CA - APRIL 17: Comedian Joe Rogan performs during his appearance at The Ice House Comedy Club on April 17, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images)" width="720" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1137862413-720x576.jpg 720w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1137862413-300x240.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1137862413-768x614.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1137862413.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" />Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images</div>
Rogan is a mixed martial artist as well as a stand-up comic. That requires patience, discipline, and a dedication to one’s health that goes beyond what most people embrace.
<blockquote><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL16129Qayg">F*** your motivation</a>. You need discipline. Because motivation’s not there every day. I’m missing motivation most days … once I get going, I feel great … but it’s that beginning part that’s hard because your body wants to stay comfortable.</blockquote>
Young men in particular won’t find many Alpha Male role models in pop culture. James Bond had to ride behind his female partner on a motorcycle in the most recent 007 affair, “No Time to Die.” Iconic male figures like Mad Max and He-Man now play second fiddle to strong, empowered female characters.
Male politicians like Gov. Gavin Newsom and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hardly radiate Alpha Male energy. That leaves many men without a sense of purpose or identity. How many times must they see “the future is female” messages before they feel less than useful?
Rogan welcomes them with humor and tough love. That’s the Alpha Male approach, and it means the Spotify superstar will keep attracting both men and women to his signature showcase.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Joe Rogan Aaron Rodgers

Alpha Male Magnet: Turns Out Women Love Rogan, Too

comedian

Joe Rogan

Masculinity

Women

Life for conservatives can often feel like an endless series of setbacks. As the Left continues to wage war on reality and convert more people into their cult of insanity, it often feels like we’re fighting an unwinnable war.
But if you pay attention, there are often victories on the battlefield that should encourage us all to keep fighting the good fight.
Today’s moment of justice has to do with a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/woke-college-puts-professor-on-leave-for-handing-out-jeremys-chocolate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California-based professor</a> who was just cleared to return to work after committing the cardinal sin of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/most-popular-item-prof-under-fire-for-sharing-jeremys-chocolate-bars-says-students-loved-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">handing out chocolate bars</a>.
Professor David Richardson, a man of substance and excellent taste, was suspended from Madera Community College in May 2023 after he laid out a table of snacks for students which included a selection of <a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/collections/jeremys-chocolate?utm_campaign=chocolate&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dw-site&amp;utm_content=na_sweetvictory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeremy’s Chocolate</a>. Though many of his students didn’t recognize this act of heroism for what it was, one disgruntled colleague – who identifies as transgender – was predictably offended and reported Richardson’s actions to the administration. 
Considering this happened in California, and considering the political leanings of almost every institution of higher learning in the country, it would be logical to assume that Richardson, who taught at the college for 30 years, would lose his job over this. But just when all hope was lost, a light shined through.
The chocolate-loving prof is back, baby.
“I am happy and grateful to be back for all the faculty, staff and students who supported me while I was in exile. I wouldn’t have made it without them. But there is a new normal. I know there were a lot of people on the other side who wanted nothing more than to see me never come back,” Richardson said of his return, per <a href="https://www.thecollegefix.com/suspended-jeremys-chocolates-professor-cleared-returns-to-classroom/">The College Fix</a>.
Richardson, who is both gay and conservative, was drawn not just to the deliciousness of <a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/collections/jeremys-chocolate?utm_campaign=chocolate&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dw-site&amp;utm_content=na_sweetvictory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeremy’s Chocolate</a>, but also the way these delectable candy bars aren’t afraid to declare the truth. Like humans, the candy is <a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/collections/jeremys-chocolate?utm_campaign=chocolate&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dw-site&amp;utm_content=na_sweetvictory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">available in two varieties</a>: He/Him and She/Her, one with nuts and one without. They were made in response to a Hershey’s featuring a man as one of the faces of its “SHE” bar on the first day of Women’s History Month.
<a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/collections/jeremys-chocolate?utm_campaign=chocolate&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dw-site&amp;utm_content=na_sweetvictory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GET YOUR JEREMY&#8217;S CHOCOLATE HERE</a>
The professor’s colleague claimed the chocolate brand’s messaging is “transphobic.” That staffer made no mention of how the candy quickly became the most popular item on the snack table once students realized what it was. 
Ultimately, Richardson was “fully exonerated” after an investigation following the Title IX complaint filed against him. Madera Community College spokesman Cory Burkarth declined to comment on the matter, saying the institution didn’t comment on personnel decisions.
This incident proves that not everyone who stands up to leftists gets defeated, even in a completely indoctrinated field such as academia. 
Truth-tellers would be wise to send the message to more people with the miniature <a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/collections/jeremys-chocolate?utm_campaign=chocolate&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dw-site&amp;utm_content=na_sweetvictory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">micro-aggression size Jeremy’s Chocolate bars</a>. They’re ideal for handing out to “they/them” at parties, for the holidays, or yes, even in a classroom setting. Because the trans activists can complain, they can tattle, they can scream, but they can’t deny that chocolate tastes better when it’s rooted in truth.
One has nuts. One doesn’t. Any questions, class?

JEREMY’S sweet victory

Sweet Victory: Prof Suspended For Distributing Jeremy’s Chocolate Goes Back To Class

Sweet Victory: Prof Suspended For Distributing Jeremy's Chocolate Goes Back To Class

College

Jeremy's Chocolate

Leftism

Professors

TV’s crankiest character is kvetching for the last time.
Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” kicks off its 12th and final season on Feb. 4, ending a remarkable run that changed TV comedy for the better.
Or, rather, the show’s lack of change gave us hope in the Age of Woke.
David’s ability to spoof his image remains a wonderful bit of performance art. He wasn’t a household name prior to the HBO series’ debut in 2000. It didn’t take long for him to go from “the guy who co-created ‘Seinfeld’” to “Curb’s” signature jerk.
He might be the least likable main character since “All in the Family’s” Archie Bunker. Each episode gave us a new reason to boo him and his selfish ways. Like actor Carroll O’Connor of “Family” fame, David made his Larry doppelgänger oddly lovable, flaws and all.
“Curb’s” improv-heavy style delivered a different brand of sitcom, stripped of canned laughter and stale setups. Like “Seinfeld,” “Curb” often introduced several plotlines that came together in the show’s waning moments.
And we never saw it coming.
Of course, “Curb” was and remains hilarious, thanks to a deep cast including Richard Lewis, Ted Danson, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, and, most of all, J.B. Smoove. The latter’s introduction in season six gave Larry the ultimate on-screen partner.
<div id="attachment_690129" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-690129" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-690129" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1974493864-864x576.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 30: (L-R) Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, Larry David, Susie Essman, and J.B. Smoove attend the Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12 premiere at DGA Theater Complex on January 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1974493864-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1974493864-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1974493864-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1974493864.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO</div>
The show’s protracted run could have been “problematic” for David and fans alike. The show started at a time when “safe spaces,” “trigger warnings” and Cancel Culture weren’t part of the vernacular.
David and co. had nearly free reign in the early years. No one could “cancel” a “Curb” installment for bruising their feelings.
Would David’s “Curb” bow down to the woke mob? Could his on-screen character be less monstrous and more of an “ally?” The show would crumble as a result, of course, but we’ve seen more than a few comedy institutions decay under the weight of our woke age.
“Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
Not “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Even the Left-leaning Guardian applauded David’s showcase for not bowing to modern sensibilities – <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/oct/03/curb-your-enthusiasm-review-if-it-aint-woke-dont-fix-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“If It Ain’t Woke, Don’t Fix It,”</a> read one headline.
<div id="attachment_690207" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-690207" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-690207" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-102599274-650x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK - JULY 02: Larry David and Cheyenne Jackson (R) on location for &quot;Curb Your Enthusiasm&quot; on the streets of Manhattan on July 2, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage)" width="650" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-102599274-650x576.jpg 650w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-102599274-300x266.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-102599274-768x680.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-102599274.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" />Bobby Bank/WireImage</div>
Signature episodes showed David’s fearless approach to comedy. A 2011 episode dubbed “Palestinian Chicken” found Larry torn between his fellow Jews and a delicious new restaurant. Larry ends up siding with a beguiling Palestinian woman named Shara (Anne Bedian) who ran a restaurant teeming with anti-Semites.
She even called him an “occupier” as they make love. David recently dubbed it his <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1752523735842566307" target="_blank" rel="noopener">favorite “Curb” episode</a>.
The show’s complicated politics shouldn’t be over-examined. David’s approach is nuanced and absurd, his willingness to be true to the character triumphs in the end.
David’s character came of age when other antiheroes ruled the small screen. Think Tony Soprano and Walter White, to name just two. The on-screen Larry wasn’t whacking mobsters or cooking meth. He went through life being offended by everyone crossing his path.
And, more often than not, he selfishly used his money and fame to keep the world at arm’s length.
<div id="attachment_690223" style="width: 773px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-690223" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-690223" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-103126001-763x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK - JULY 27: Larry David on location for &quot;Curb Your Enthusiasm&quot; on the streets of Manhattan on July 27, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage)" width="763" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-103126001-763x576.jpg 763w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-103126001-300x226.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-103126001-768x580.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-103126001.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 763px) 100vw, 763px" />Bobby Bank/WireImage</div>
“Curb” rarely dabbles in modern politics, but when it does Larry and co. aren’t crashing any Libertarian dinners. And it wouldn’t be authentic if the on-screen Larry, a product of the Hollywood ecosystem, rocked a MAGA hat sans irony.
“Curb’s” antihero was liberal to the core, but the show dedicated an episode to Larry using that red Trump hat to his advantage. He realized strangers would flee from the sight of any MAGA hat wearer, so he proudly wore it to fend off strangers.
Pure “Curb.”
How did David keep “Curb” honest? Like his on-screen persona, he doesn&#8217;t dwell on <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/curb-your-enthusiasm-boss-larry-davids-willingness-offend-1276219/">what other people think of him</a>, according to the show’s executive producer Jeff Schaffer.
“Here’s the thing for us: Nothing is really off limits. I think it’s just how you do it. Any subject is totally fair game; it’s how you execute it. Larry is willing to address issues other people just might not want to touch at all, and I think there’s a very good reason for that, and that’s that he doesn’t care if you watch.”
Some media outlets decried a <a href="https://observer.com/2020/02/larry-david-hbo-curb-your-enthusiasm-metoo-happy-new-year/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Curb” MeToo plotline as “clumsy,”</a> a commentary that didn’t impact David or the show. Wokesters sensed David and co. didn’t have time for such complaints, so they rarely rose up to attack him or the series.
Even when Garlin, a fixture on “Curb” as Larry’s best bud, got booted from his other gig at ABC’s “The Goldbergs” for <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/03/jeff-garlins-exit-from-the-goldbergs-was-a-long-time-coming-says-wendy-mclendon-covey#:~:text=The%20Goldbergs%20have%20been%20through,was%20a%20long%20time%20coming.%E2%80%9D">allegedly coarse comments and “unwanted hugs”</a> David professionally stood by him.
“Curb” delivered a quasi-“Seinfeld” reunion in season seven, one served up on the show’s unique terms. The sitcom’s main characters joined Larry David for a “new” episode, but we saw it all go down behind the scenes.
<div id="attachment_690213" style="width: 904px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-690213" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-690213" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-91286063-894x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: (L-R) Actors Larry David, Susie Essman and Jerry Seinfeld attend the &quot;Curb Your Enthusiasm&quot; Season 7 New York screening at the Time Warner Screening Room on September 30, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)" width="894" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-91286063-894x576.jpg 894w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-91286063-300x193.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-91286063-768x495.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-91286063.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 894px) 100vw, 894px" />Jamie McCarthy/WireImage</div>
Plus, Larry used the plot to reunite with his ex-wife, played by Hines, lowering expectations for “Seinfeld” fans demanding a perfect reunion moment.
Like “Seinfeld,” “Curb” is leaving at the top of its game with no regrets or talk of “jumping the shark,” the phrase used for shows that outlast their welcome.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12 Premiere

The Final Season Of ‘Curb’ Has Arrived. Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That.

actors

Hollywood

Jerry Seinfeld

Larry David

Television

The October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas revealed the Left’s free speech hypocrisy.
Progressives who sat by as the Biden administration teamed with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/meeting-between-state-department-and-facebook-axed-after-judge-warns-of-orwellian-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media</a> giants to censor Americans <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/hamas-cancel-culture-free-speech-colleges/">suddenly howled</a> after Hamas apologists were “canceled.” 
The free speech battles within Hollywood have been even more hypocritical, with or without the Hamas atrocities. An industry which praised free speech during the Bush years went silent as conservative stars were <a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/487640-hooray-for-hollywood-unless-youre-a-conservative/">repeatedly punished</a>, for their views, sensitivity readers ransacked beloved authors and comedians looked over their shoulders for sharing “problematic” jokes.
Yet two actresses have been “canceled” for supporting the Palestinian cause, albeit in extreme fashion.Was that right? Should stars be able to share potentially abhorrent views sans punishment? 
Rising star Melissa Barrera of “Scream” fame lost a role in the next film in the horror franchise after her pro-Palestinian views went public. She didn’t just call for a ceasefire or express empathy for an impoverished people. <a href="https://time.com/6338695/melissa-barrera-fired-susan-sarandon-israel-hamas-war-hollywood/">She shared a story on Instagram</a> suggesting pro-Israeli forces distort the Holocaust to boost the nation’s armed forces.
<div id="attachment_687127" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-687127" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-687127" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1946297363-864x576.jpg" alt="PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 19: Melissa Barrera attends The Vulture Spot at Sundance Film Festival - Day 1 at The Vulture Spot on January 19, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Vulture)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1946297363-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1946297363-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1946297363-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1946297363.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Vulture</div>
She also suggested the media is controlled by Jews and that Israel’s war against Hamas amounted <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/01/21/news/scream-actress-melissa-barrera-joins-disruptive-anti-israel-rally-at-sundance/">to “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing.”</a>
For that Spyglass Media Group, the studio behind the “Scream” franchises, cut her loose.
Oscar winner Susan Sarandon’s agent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/susan-sarandon-dropped-by-agency-after-her-anti-semitic-remarks">severed ties</a> with the superstar after she crudely compared the raging anti-Semitism in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks to what Palestinians endure in America.
Both actresses hardly appear contrite.
Sarandon’s X account is now a non-stop wave of pro-Palestinian propaganda. Barrera stood by her comments, sans apology.
<div id="attachment_687131" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-687131" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-687131" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1542362199-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NY - JULY 19: Susan Sarandon walks the picket line in support of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike on July 19, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by JNI/Star Max/GC Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1542362199-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1542362199-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1542362199-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1542362199.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />JNI/Star Max/GC Images</div>
Barrera, who recently marched in a pro-Palestinian protest during the Sundance Film Festival, contends her comments reflect <a href="https://decider.com/2024/01/24/melissa-barrera-addresses-firing-scream/?utm_source=flipboard">mainstream views</a> on the issues in play.
“The people who know me in my family know the truth about me and where I stand, and I think most people in the world also do,” she said. 
Plus, Barrera has more gigs lined up, meaning her cancellation will be short-lived.
Sharing ardently anti-Israeli rhetoric also <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/news/caa-maha-dakhil-resigns-board-israel-social-media-posts-controversy-1235764577/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cost CAA agent Maha Dakhil</a> her gig. Dakhil, who has represented Tom Cruise, Madonna, and more, resigned from the agency’s internal board after she accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza.
Other stars have shared aggressively pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli views without overt consequences. John Cusack promotes those views ‘round the clock on his X platform but no longer works as regularly as he did in days gone by.
<div id="attachment_687139" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-687139" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-687139" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1170854370-864x576.jpg" alt="CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 24: Actor John Cusack speaks at a rally ahead of an upcoming potential strike on September 24, 2019 in Chicago. With Chicago teachers demanding increased school funding, pay raises, and more healthcare benefits, the rally also featured Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who praised teachers' work and called for dramatically increased support for public schools nationwide. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1170854370-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1170854370-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1170854370-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/GettyImages-1170854370.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Scott Heins/Getty Images</div>
Other stars rallied to promote an Israeli/Hamas ceasefire, often with little attention to either the Oct. 7 atrocities or the hostages still in the clutches of Hamas.
A few media outlets suggested the Barrera/Sarandon cancellations amounted to a <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/melissa-barrera-scream-firing-sparks-fears-over-new-hollywood-blacklist-1845901" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new Hollywood blacklist</a>.
It’s worth noting other stars have been canceled for far, far less. Roseanne Barr lost her signature sitcom, along with her Hollywood career, for one gross, racially charged Tweet in 2018 for which she immediately apologized.
Actress Gina Carano’s cancellation proved even more cruel. The “Mandalorian” star lost her Disney+ showcase after suggesting American conservatives were being dehumanized in a similar fashion to Jews in Germany in the 1930s.
Agree? Disagree? Either way, it hardly mentioned a reprimand, let alone a pink slip. Carano joined The Daily Wire’s “Terror on the Prairie” western after her dismissal but hasn’t worked in mainstream Hollywood fare since.
And that’s the bigger problem afoot.
Hollywood’s stance on free speech is all over the map, emotionally driven and progressive to the core.
<h4><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-divided-states-of-biden">WATCH: &#8220;The Divided States Of Biden with Ben Shapiro&#8221; on DailyWire+</a></h4>
Carano’s commentary pales compared to that of her “Mandalorian” co-star, Pedro Pascal. The actor <a href="https://boundingintocomics.com/2020/11/07/the-mandalorian-and-wonder-woman-actor-pedro-pascal-compares-donald-trump-voters-to-nazis/">compared Trump voters to Nazis</a> before deleting the post.
He suffered no consequences for his ghastly comparison. Slamming Republicans is encouraged, after all, in La La Land.
And let’s not forget the constellation of stars who wished for President Donald Trump’s death in recent years. The list includes Madonna, who dreamed of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/madonna-womensmarch-i-have-thought-awful-lot-about-amanda-prestigiacomo">blowing up the White House,</a> presumably with Trump inside, director Joss Whedon, Charlie Sheen, Johnny Depp and more.
None suffered any professional blowback for sharing those views. Only Kathy Griffin, who infamously shared a photograph of her holding a bloodied Trump ahead aloft, felt professional pain for her views.
Other repugnant celebrity comments also got ignored. Ellen Barkin pined for disgraced comedian Louis C.K. <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6543255/Outraged-Ellen-Barkin-lashes-Louis-CK-mocks-Parkland-shooting-victims.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to be raped and shot</a> via her then-Twitter account and nothing untoward happened to her career.
Bette Midler repeatedly <a href="https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/10/bette-midler-tweets-rand-paul-attack/325701002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cheered on</a> the neighbor who attacked Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). The Republican gadfly suffered serious injuries as a result, but Midler kept on working (even for Disney+, for what it’s worth).
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Employers have the right to terminate employees who break the law or disgrace the company with their actions. No one is calling what Spyglass did to Barrera illegal in any fashion.
Hollywood’s lack of free speech logic, let alone moral clarity, is disturbing. Stand for absolute free speech or judge stars who say egregious things in something close to a reasonable, consistent manner.
Pick a lane.
The current mania regarding the Israel/Hamas war could have one result that has little to do with free speech or Cancel Culture. Will Jewish actors, or anyone who cares about the Jewish people, rush to work alongside someone like Barrera? What about Cusack?
The actor recently shared a post featuring “Egypt’s Jon Stewart,” Bassem Youssef, saying the Oct. 7 attacks <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/bassem-youssef-john-cusack-denies-hamas-torture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">didn’t happen</a>. That’s despite video after ghastly video, sharing across the globe, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hamas-terror-attack-video-los-angeles-new-york-city-screenings-1235637869/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirming the atrocities</a>.
This goes beyond free speech. Actors can opt in, or out, of a given project for any number or reasons. Some may start choosing their co-stars more carefully.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

FAN EXPO Chicago 2023

Hollywood, Hamas, And The Hypocritical Battles Over Free Speech

Censorship

Social Media

Students and faculty at American universities attempted to censor Daily Wire host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/author/michael-j-knowles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Knowles</a> more than any other campus speaker in 2023, according to a <a href="https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/campus-disinvitation-database#campus-disinvitations/?view_39_page=22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">database</a> compiled by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).
Knowles appeared three times in the free speech organization’s “Campus Disinvitation Database” last year as students and faculty at the University of Buffalo, the University of Pittsburgh, and Purdue University all tried to get the Daily Wire host’s speaking events canceled. The three cancel campaigns against Knowles were all in reaction to his views on transgender ideology. 
None of the censorship attempts against Knowles were successful, however, and the podcast host spoke at all three universities even as protesters stood outside of his events, calling him a “transphobe.” 
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh, women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines, and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk each appeared twice in FIRE’s “Campus Disinvitation Database” for 2023. None of the censorship attempts against Walsh, Gaines, or Kirk were successful either. 
Knowles’ <a href="https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/ub-president-michael-knowles-respond-to-backlash-about-thursday-speaker-event-transgender-lgbtq/71-36fac80e-7132-4738-9b7d-8dedbeec853c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speech at Buffalo</a> in March caused a stir as he came to the campus for the event shortly after stating that “transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely.” LGBTQ activists took Knowles’ comment — where he simply called for the culture to reject trans “ideology” — as a genocidal threat. 
“No even mildly reasonable person could have interpreted my words as insinuating any sort of violence,” he said at the time, responding to the Left-wing outrage over his remark. 
The speech took place despite the calls for the University of Buffalo to cancel it after the university’s president said it couldn’t stop the student group from inviting Knowles since the group was abiding by university guidelines and state laws. 
Shortly after the Buffalo speech, Knowles attended an event at the University of Pittsburgh, resulting in more <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/university-of-pittsburgh-trans-community-petition-anti-trans-discussions-guest-speakers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backlash</a>. Within a month of Knowles’ speech, Gaines and Daily Wire Senior Editor Cabot Phillips also spoke at events on campus, which upset some students and faculty who circulated a petition calling for the university to prohibit them from speaking. But Knowles’ speech, as well as Gaines&#8217; and Phillips&#8217; events at Pitt, went on as planned. 
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Knowles then spoke at Purdue University, where the commentator again addressed transgenderism. Some students at Purdue organized a <a href="https://yaf.org/news/purdue-leftists-organize-protest-against-michael-knowles-within-minutes-of-event-being-announced/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protest</a> against Knowles while others <a href="https://www.wbaa.org/purdue-news/2023-03-22/purdue-students-prepare-for-michael-knowles-visit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hosted</a> a block party “to eradicate transphobia,” which included a drag show.
While FIRE does not claim that its database is exhaustive, the <a href="https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/campus-disinvitation-database#campus-disinvitations/?view_39_page=23" target="_blank" rel="noopener">list</a> showed that all but one of the 27 censorship campaigns against speakers on campuses were attempts from the Left to silence Right-leaning speakers. Other notable speakers whose events were targeted by leftists include Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, author James Lindsay, and conservative commentator Liz Wheeler. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
FIRE recorded 27 attempted (and sometimes successful) campus disinvitations last year.
All but one came from the Left. <a href="https://t.co/NKIYF7tL2t">pic.twitter.com/NKIYF7tL2t</a>
&mdash; Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) <a href="https://twitter.com/sfmcguire79/status/1747700981050011824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The FIRE list also included federal judge Kyle Duncan, whose speech at Stanford University last March was disrupted by students who shouted at him while he tried to present his prepared remarks. When Duncan asked for an administrator to get the situation under control, DEI administrator Tirien Steinbach <a href="https://twitter.com/EdWhelanEPPC/status/1634218660494548993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1634314183079518211%7Ctwgr%5E0d6c135d58315315e556ff461017111a5d5c9920%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thefire.org%2Fnews%2Fstanford-law-students-shout-down-5th-circuit-judge-post-mortem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended</a> the disruption, telling the judge that “for many people here, your work has caused harm.” 
In another <a href="https://twitter.com/johndsailer/status/1654508284785700864?s=51&amp;t=qzjGK2hvGE3WB6C8voqsPQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">instance</a> of campus disinvites documented by FIRE, an event featuring Rep. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and State Rep. Dave Murphy in May was canceled after petitions from students and faculty at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Michael Knowles

Campus Censorship Attempts Targeted Michael Knowles More Than Any Speaker In 2023

American Universities

LGBTQ

Transgender

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-honor-faith-family-and-country-candace-cameron-bure-on-making-faith-based-films" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Candace Cameron Bure</a> dismissed attempts last year to &#8220;cancel&#8221; her over her comments about traditional marriage and said she sees it as a test of her faith, as she quoted a Bible verse which deals with seeing test of trials as a blessing.
During the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-hard-no-matter-what-candace-cameron-bure-says-cancel-culture-cant-force-her-to-back-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener">47-year-old</a> actress&#8217; latest episode on the &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7O01r0tg-Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Candace Cameron Bure Podcast</a>,&#8221; the &#8220;Full House&#8221; star talked about the backlash she faced in 2022 after she voiced her Christian and conservative views. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7O01r0tg-Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7:07</a>)
&#8220;When I had a lot of these &#8216;bullets&#8217; kind of hit me in the last year or so, they&#8217;ve been a really big challenge to me personally, to my heart, to my character, to my relationships, to my jobs,  Bure said. &#8220;I remember being so upset over it, because it&#8217;s like how do you recover?&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ll just say it, Cancel Culture is very real,&#8221; she added. &#8220;And they were trying to cancel me.&#8221;
Bure said her brother, actor Kirk Cameron, called her up at the time and welcomed her into the James 1 club. It was then that Bure looked up the verse and found a message about overcoming struggles, which she said was comforting.
&#8220;Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing,&#8221; Bure read the quote. &#8220;&#8230;But blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.&#8221;
In 2022, the &#8220;Fuller House&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/it-absolutely-breaks-my-heart-candace-cameron-bure-responds-to-backlash-over-marriage-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">star</a> faced a backlash and was accused of &#8220;bigotry&#8221; and of &#8220;selling out&#8221; after she voiced her opinion about traditional marriage when asked about leaving Hallmark for the Great American Family network.
In the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/candace-cameron-bure-great-american-family-11668205295" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wall Street Journal interview</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/more-celebs-pile-on-candace-cameron-bure-for-traditional-marriage-comment-while-daughter-defends-her" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bure</a> said that GAF storylines would &#8220;keep traditional marriage at the core.&#8221; Her departure from the network came after Hallmark&#8217;s programming and advertising started involving <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lgbtq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LGBTQ-</a>themed stories. Bure develops, produces and stars in movies on GAF.
Immediately following the media attention from her comments, Bure shared a lengthy statement addressing the backlash, saying that she had never intended to hurt anyone and that the media&#8217;s apparent need to divide people was only continuing to feed the current &#8220;toxic climate.&#8221; &#8220;We need Christmas more than ever,&#8221; she said.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/youre-going-to-be-a-disciple-for-me-candace-cameron-bure-thanks-god-for-taking-her-out-of-acting-for-10-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;You&#8217;re Going To Be A Disciple For Me&#8217;: Candace Cameron Bure Thanks God For Taking Her Out Of Acting For 10 Years</a>

Candace Cameron Bure

Candace Cameron Bure Dismisses Attempts To ‘Cancel’ Her As A Test Of Faith

Candace Cameron Bure Dismisses Attempts To 'Cancel' Her As A Test Of Faith

Faith

The following is a transcript excerpt from Dr. Jordan Peterson’s conversation with comedian Matt Rife. In this segment, they discuss the criticism over Matt’s Netflix special, how he responded, and the lack of consequences for leveling an accusation. You can <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/the-jordan-b-peterson-podcast/rife-for-cancellation-matt-rife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listen to</a> or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/rife-for-cancellation-matt-rife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">watch</a> the full podcast episode on DailyWire+.
Start time: 1:01:29 
Jordan: One of the things that I have noticed repeatedly, because I have gone through repeated attempts of people trying to cancel me, is that it can be quite an intense experience when in the immediate aftermath of its occurrence and that is somewhat off-putting and destabilizing because you do not exactly know how far out it is going to spread or what the consequences could be. But if you did not do anything wrong and you do not apologize, or maybe you make light of it in some creative way, then the probability that it will turn around and flip in your direction, if you can tolerate the weight, is extremely high. Part of the reason I am bringing this up is because I do not think the people who are in the throes of being canceled understand this.
You can imagine historically, if an angry mob of 40 of your neighbors showed up on your doorstep with pitchforks and flames, it would probably be a good time to think, “These people would not have gone to all that time and effort, in all likelihood, had I not done something wrong.” But now you can whip up a Twitter mob in no time whatsoever, with no effort at no cost to yourself and probably some benefit. So your instinctual responses to being mobbed are wrong.
Matt: Yeah, it doesn’t translate to the real world. I just walked through two very packed airports and did nothing but take like 45 pictures. Nothing but a positive response. 
Jordan: Have you had any negative responses? You said you had no negative responses to anything you have ever said so far at a live show and when you were actually on stage. What about out in the actual world?
Matt: Not once. Never once has somebody come up to me and said, “Hey, I didn’t like the thing you said.” That kind of — I don’t know if you want to call it — a mixture of social awareness and accountability doesn’t translate to the real world.
<h4><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/rife-for-cancellation-matt-rife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast</a></h4>
Jordan: It also takes a lot of gall to do that — to come up to someone and say, “You know that thing you said?” even though you don’t know who they are.
Matt: Imagine you see a street performer; they’re playing violin on a street corner, they’ve got their case out with cash. Say you f***ing hate violins. Violin drives you nuts. Maybe he’s not even good at playing violin. What do you do? You keep walking, right? No sane, decent human being stops and goes, “You’re f***ing awful dude. Kill yourself. What are you doing out here? You’re making my life miserable until I just look a different direction.” That’s an insane thing to do, and most people know not to do that. But obviously the internet creates this. This is what I would believe to be false confidence and believing that they’re safe behind this imaginary source of social media — that they don’t face any repercussions because their profile picture is an anime character and everything’s a private profile. There’s no consequence for saying what they say.
<div id="attachment_661237" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-661237" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-661237" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/Matt-Rife-3-1024x566.png" alt="DailyWire+. Dr. Jordan B Peterson podcast." width="1024" height="566" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/Matt-Rife-3-1024x566.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/Matt-Rife-3-300x166.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/Matt-Rife-3-768x424.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/Matt-Rife-3-1536x849.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/Matt-Rife-3.png 1900w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />DailyWire+</div>
Jordan: There is no consequence for leveling an accusation. Yes, it is really bad.
Matt: Versus the real world. You come up to me; I can have an intellectual conversation with you as to why I disagree with you.
Jordan: Or make a joke.
Matt: Yes. Or I could smack the s*** out of you. That is also a consequence that is viable. And that doesn’t weigh on anybody on the internet, so it’s easier for people to talk s*** on there versus the real world where people actually aren’t even bothered. And also, I had to figure, most people who talk s*** on the internet and actively try to cancel people and have no life, they’re not out in the real world. They’re in their house doing absolutely nothing, so you don’t have to worry about that.
Jordan: Yes, and they definitely have the mentality of mean girl high school bullies: We are going to shame, we are going to reputation savage, we are going to exclude.
Matt: Go ahead. Put so much energy in your life into thinking about me and how much you don’t like me. What a waste of your life.
Jordan: Now, you said too that when you posted your response to the criticisms, you posted something — I think that is wildly funny, by the way — so maybe you could explain that to this particular crowd. But you also told me in the intervening time between the two podcasts that that was not a calculated response — that you relied on your instinct for what was funny. So explain what you did.
Matt: So funny, you sound like a principal, who my parents came here — “Tell them what you did.”
Jordan: Right? That’s right. Exactly. Lay it out, man.
Matt: Basically, this thing happened. There was outrage over a joke that was wildly misperceived, and that’s fine. You’re allowed to like or not like a joke. Totally ok. And in response to that, I posted. When you get canceled or somebody is upset about a joke, you’re supposed to apologize. People want you to back down and shame you and recognize what you’ve done wrong. And I don’t believe I did anything wrong whatsoever. So it made me really feel like the people who were offended by this were, for lack of better words and to be quite frank, weak-minded. So I posted a photo of me on stage — I thought it was a good photo — with a link at the bottom of it, and the caption was saying if I’ve ever offended you with a joke, I’ve told, here’s a link to my official apology. And the link description should have been a dead giveaway. It said to click to solve your issue, and when you click on the link, it redirected you to an online store front.
Jordan: That is funny. “Click to solve your issue.” That’s funny. Because it is a little ambiguous.
<div id="attachment_661253" style="width: 291px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-661253" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-661253" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/Rife-unnamed.png" alt="Matt Rife Instagram." width="281" height="512" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/Rife-unnamed.png 281w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/Rife-unnamed-165x300.png 165w" sizes="(max-width: 281px) 100vw, 281px" />Matt Rife Instagram.</div>
Matt: Of course. And then you click on the link and it redirects you to an online storefront for special needs helmets. I thought this was very funny and again, instinctually, people get triggered by a subject matter rather than what the joke actually is. Everybody took that as I was making fun of special needs people. No, I don’t have anything to say about special needs people.
Jordan: Well, you are making fun of people claiming special needs for their emotional fragility inappropriately.
Matt: Exactly. 
Jordan: And quite nicely.
Matt: I’m saying, you need this way more than they do. And the best part is that you clicked on it. 
Jordan: That is right. They could have special needs earplugs that they could wear to comedy shows where you actually could not hear the comedian.
Matt: They filter out all the words. It AI-generates what they want to hear. Oh, that’s so genius. 
Jordan: That will happen soon enough. That is right. You will be able to get an AI sensor. 
Matt: But that’s technically what your algorithm is. It shows you what you want to see. It tells you what you want to hear. The night that I was like the number one trending thing on Twitter, I texted my friend and I was like, “Yeesh.” And he sent me a screenshot of his; I wasn’t even top 25. He goes, “Nobody cares, dude. It’s in your circle because it’s your profile. You’re going to hear about it, obviously, but it’s not to the extent people think.”
So, yes, I posted this misdirect of an apology, and it couldn’t have went better. I was literally just sitting passenger seat in a car ride with my friend, and I just thought it would be a funny thing to do. It took me no more than 45 seconds to think of doing that. I go, “Hey, is this funny?” And he cracked up laughing, and I went, huh, f*** it. I also thought that most of the outrage was happening just on Twitter and TikTok. Like, Instagram’s a far more personal app I think. And so the fact that people even saw that and took it to other platforms I thought was insane, but also proved my point even more that people who don’t even like my comedy or have never even heard of me, saw the outrage and my response to it and went, oh, that’s actually funny. It actually gained me a lot of fans because most of the world, I would feel confident in saying, the majority of people are sick of this s***. 
Jordan: Well, most people are actually hoping that a comedian will be funny rather than politically correct. Right. Well, this is the problem. I think this is the misapprehension of people who apologize when they are accused because your case is, well, perhaps you irritated some people by not apologizing. But, first of all, there are people that you really don’t mind irritating, and they weren’t really irritated to begin with. So it is all a lie anyway.
Matt: Nor were they fans in the first place.
Jordan: Right. Exactly. So when you apologize, in principle, you signal to those people that you have kowtowed and bowed down. But you forgo the opportunity to appeal to a much broader realm of people, which you think would be more sensible if you were trying to protect or develop your career — the people who look at what you’ve done and think, oh, well, that is funny enough, so maybe I will go check out this guy who I have never heard of. I am sure you attracted like 10,000 fans for every person you turned off.
<div id="attachment_661239" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-661239" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-661239" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/GettyImages-1771546444-864x576.jpg" alt="THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON -- Episode 1871 -- Pictured: (l-r) Comedian Matt Rife during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 -- (Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/GettyImages-1771546444-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/GettyImages-1771546444-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/GettyImages-1771546444-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/12/GettyImages-1771546444.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images</div>
Matt: Oh, yeah. Analytically, I have gained more fans than I have lost across all platforms. The extremities of everybody involved in this “outrage” has been nothing but beneficial because, even if you didn’t like that — the domestic violence joke that I got in trouble for — which is fair, even I think it’s not the best joke I’ve ever written at all. It’s not. It’s probably the worst joke in the special, and that’s fine. I do other things. I have plenty other jokes that are for other people — the response being a perfect example of that. Even if people go, well, that’s not funny but that joke of his is, the extremities are so loud, so against each other, that once one group of people, whatever you want to call them — people love to make it about the Left or the Right; I’m a very unpolitical person; I don’t really use those terms, so they might not be correctly used here — but say the Left is so outraged about something, the Right instinctually goes, “You’re being so ridiculous about this. If you hate this, I’m going to support this because I see nothing wrong with it.” So in doing that, they’ve completely balanced each other out.
Jordan: Well, right. And you probably brought work to the attention of a whole demographic that would not have necessarily known who you were.
Matt: So many people commenting, “I didn’t know who this kid was. I actually didn’t like him before. But I like this joke that he told,” or “I dislike you so much that the enemy of my enemy is not my friend.” So it’s just an ever evolving process. People going back and forth: I love you, I hate you. And it’s going to be this way for the rest of my career and the rest of my life and I’m totally fine with that.
Jordan: Probably, if you are lucky.
Matt: I hope so.
* * *
To hear all of the rest of the discussion, continue by listening or watching this episode on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/watch">DailyWire+</a>.
<a href="https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/">Dr. Jordan B. Peterson</a> is a clinical psychologist and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. From 1993 to 1998 he served as assistant and then associate professor of psychology at Harvard. He is the international bestselling author of Maps of Meaning, 12 Rules For Life, and Beyond Order. You can now<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/the-jordan-b-peterson-podcast"> listen to</a> or<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/watch/jordan-peterson"> watch</a> his popular lectures on DailyWire+.

2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit

Comedian Matt Rife Remains Unapologetic For Having A Sense Of Humor

Jordan Peterson

Woke Culture

The following is a compilation of short excerpts from Dr. Jordan Peterson’s conversation with Matt Rife. In them, they discuss the intention behind Matt’s comedy, the critical aspect of timing, deflection as a defense mechanism, healing by exposure, cancel culture’s goal to garner attention, and laughter as evidence of help. You can <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/the-jordan-b-peterson-podcast/rife-for-cancellation-matt-rife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listen to</a> or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/rife-for-cancellation-matt-rife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">watch</a> the full podcast episode on DailyWire+.
Start time: 2:33 [et al.]
<h2>The Intention Of Making People Laugh</h2>
Time: 2:59
Jordan: One of the things I have noticed is that people who are harassed by sensorial-minded nell wits almost always back down and apologize. My sense of that is that a mob comes after them first, for whatever hypothetical sin they have committed, and then they apologize, and the second mob comes after them for that. Then they lessen their own character by the false apology, and they embolden these idiot accusers. So when this blew up around you, why did you decide to take the strategy that you took? Why were you not wracked with guilt and apologetic?
Matt: Because it’s just comedy. I’m just doing what’s funny to me. It’s never any deeper than that, nor should it be for anybody. I’m saying things that my imagination drums up that makes me happy, releases endorphins in my head, and makes my life happier. And all I do is share those thoughts with other people in hopes that it makes their life easier.
Jordan: Well, I have been watching what you do on your specials, and you are continually interacting with the audience, which, correct me if I have this wrong, but a lot of the comedians that I have spoken to spend a lot of time preparing their sets and practicing. But what you are doing seems to be something that is much more akin to spontaneous wit. That is a dangerous thing to do because you could easily be not funny.
Matt: Oh, high risk, high reward.
Jordan: Well, and it is also that because you are doing that, you do not have a lot of time to exactly think through what you are going to say. If something strikes you as amusing, you pretty much have to go for it. And if your head is full of censorship-related thoughts, you are going to be not funny in about 15 seconds.
Matt: You have to let the intrusive thoughts win in comedy. You have to. If you’re a naturally funny person, the first thing that comes to your mind should be the funniest thing to you most of the time in a comedic situation. 
Jordan: It has to be the first thing. You know, if you are taking a multiple choice test, if you second guess your intuition about the right answer, you are more likely to be wrong with the second guess. 
Matt: Is that true? That makes complete sense. 
Jordan: Yes, that immediate response tends to be better. It is a weird thing because that thing that is comical inside you, that is providing you with the intuition for the jokes, it has to be in quick relationship with the audience.
Matt: Timing is everything.
Jordan: Yes, timing is absolutely everything. You want to say the most pointed thing at exactly the right time. So, first of all, how broad-scale do you think this rebellion against what you said actually is? How many people do you think are behind it? And why do you think it has become such a big deal?
Matt: It’s probably a few dozen thousand, which sounds like a lot until you remember there’s 8 billion people in the world. And I would say 90% of the small majority that is upset with me doesn’t go to comedy shows anyway or wouldn’t vibe with me as a person anyway, which is fine. … Whether you enjoy what I do or not, you don’t even have to know it exists. If I’m your problem — if you and I are face to face and you have a problem with my comedy that I tell that I admit to the world, right — if you just remove yourself from me, if you do something as simple as just turn around, there is an entire planet behind you for you to go explore and live the rest of your life. You don’t ever have to think about me. You don’t have to talk about me. I don’t like screamo heavy metal music. Guess how often I think about it and talk about it? Zero percent of the time. You just remove yourself from the situation. I see no harm in trying to make people laugh as a general intention.
<div id="attachment_660637" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-660637" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-660637" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-Rife-4-1024x571.png" alt="DailyWire+. Jordan B. Peterson podcast." width="1024" height="571" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-Rife-4-1024x571.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-Rife-4-300x167.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-Rife-4-768x428.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-Rife-4-1536x857.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-Rife-4.png 1908w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />DailyWire+</div>
<h2>Comedy As A Sophisticated Defense </h2>
Time: 27:22
Jordan: How do you keep yourself from focusing on whether or not you are being funny, for example, when you are interacting with the audience?
Matt: It’s purely confidence, whether it’s real or fake confidence. I think when I was younger, I did develop a fake confidence. I was bullied a lot in high school, not like getting shoved into lockers, but to the point where I wasn’t anybody in anybody’s group. You know, I was class clown. I was the butt of a lot of people’s jokes, which didn’t hurt, at least I tell myself. But I think that’s where you learn. You learn to deflect. Right? You have two options in a moment when somebody makes a joke at your expense. You can either laugh along and play into it and go with it, or you can be embarrassed and everybody sees you’re embarrassed, which is even more embarrassing.
Jordan: Yes, you are right. That just invites abuse. Yes.
Matt: So I think growing up I developed this sense of false confidence where I went, hey, if I also make fun of myself and I get in on your guys’ joke, it won’t hurt. Or people can’t tell that I’m upset. People think it doesn’t bother me.
<h4><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/rife-for-cancellation-matt-rife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast</a></h4>
Jordan: I am going to challenge your supposition that that was false — because the thing about being funny is that if you are false, you are not funny. And if you are not funny and you are being bullied, you are just going to get bullied worse. So it seems like you were able to generate responses that were witty and that were funny.
Matt: But purely a defense mechanism I think. It wasn’t for the point of like, oh, I hope I get a good joke off here. I think it was, I have to deflect them saying a mean thing with me saying a funny thing. 
Jordan: I would say that is a very sophisticated defense.
<h2>Playing With Disaster — And Not Apologizing For It </h2>
Time 32:17
Matt: I think comedy is purely down to intent. When people are bullying you, when high schoolers are making fun of something about you, that’s a totally different intent. Even though they are making a joke, their intention is that you’re going to feel a certain kind of way. That is what differentiates it from standup comedy. Every single thing I say on stage is said with nothing but the intention to make people laugh. And I understand it’s not going to make everybody laugh. Some people heal totally differently when it comes to certain topics. I get that and I accept that. I’m not for you.
Jordan: But getting touchy about that, even if you have been hurt, first of all, that is a sign that you still have some real work to do. And second, getting touchy about that and then shielding yourself from any exposure to that is not the way to being cured. Quite the contrary. You know, it is better if you have had a traumatic experience in your life not to protect yourself unduly from situations that might bring that back up, but to voluntarily expose yourself to situations where that is likely to be the case. So it might be understandable in that people have been hurt, but it is counterproductive even with regard to their own recovery. 
Matt: Oh, absolutely. 
Jordan: Comedy has this psychological function; it is sort of like a horror movie in some ways. It is a weird thing that people will voluntarily watch a horror movie because you might ask, why would you pay to be scared? But you are not. You are paying for the experience of the mastery of your fear. And then in comedy, you see the same sort of thing happening; the comedians are always toying with the forbidden. And in part, the reason the audience participates is because we often have to deal with the forbidden, and often some of the things we forbid are not things that we should be avoiding or forbidding. … The comedians have that function of putting forward unpalatable truths in a place where everyone is there to do that voluntarily. That is part of the game. How far can we push things? Then to get all bitchy about that and to try to cancel someone in consequence?
I saw this one guy on YouTube who was complaining about you. He said that you built your career as an ally of women. That was basically his point. Now you have betrayed them with your jokes about domestic abuse. So he was playing this, “I’m the friend of women” sort of game. But he is violating that contract, too, which is that everybody is there in a comedy club to play with disaster. And you know, you are essentially supposed to go along with that.
Matt: I just don’t understand how the environment isn’t taken into consideration. The environment is the context. Think of comedy like a restaurant. You go in there, the food’s not for you, you can leave. You didn’t have to stop in here. Comedy is such a niche field. I wouldn’t consider standup comedy a mainstream art form. It’s not film, it’s not television, it’s not music. It’s not as globally celebrated in every household, you know. It just blows my mind that people can’t just let it be. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you. 
Jordan: See, what is happening I think, even this guy that criticized you in the manner that I just described, I found what he had to say, and him for that matter, contemptible. I thought it was pathetic. But this is something social media does, is that his video, even though I do not think it redounds to his credit, has given him likely more exposure than anything he will ever do in his life. So one of the huge problems on the social media side is that we have put undue access to status in the hands of people who will misuse accusations to garner attention. … One of the massive problems with social media is that it provides people who are willing to do something like savage your reputation with way more attention than they could ever accrue, given their own status and abilities. What to do about that, I have no idea — although apologizing is a bad idea.
<div id="attachment_660641" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-660641" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-660641" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-RIfe-1024x574.png" alt="DailyWire+. Jordan B. Peterson podcast." width="1024" height="574" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-RIfe-1024x574.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-RIfe-300x168.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-RIfe-768x430.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-RIfe-1536x861.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/11/Matt-RIfe.png 1906w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />DailyWire+.</div>
<h2>Helping By Making People Laugh</h2>
Time: 45:15
Jordan: What you are doing, if you are a comic, is actually helping people, not hurting them. And you can tell you are helping them because they laugh. 
Matt: Oh, of course. And it doesn’t need to be for the masses. If you reach even just a few people, you’re doing the right thing. Like I said at the beginning of the podcast, everything I do is just to make people laugh.
Jordan: I am curious about that because the people who apologize for offending someone with their art or their comedy must have doubts about their own intent, right? So if someone comes along and jabs them and says, “Maybe you’re just a mean son of a bitch,” and they say, “Well, you know, maybe I should be more careful.” Maybe they’re feeling a bit depressed, but they do step back and doubt themselves. 
You could say that there are two reasons that someone called for their misbehavior might doubt themselves. One would be that they are narcissistic, and the other would be that they are actually confident in their intent. Now, you have indicated a number of times while we have talked that you are confident in your intent. 
Matt: Yeah.
Jordan: So if I was a persistent skeptic, I would say that you clearly offended 12,000 people — that was the number you came up with. Why are you so confident in your intent that your belief in your own goodness in relationship to comedy trumps the fact that 12,000 people are telling you that you said something offensive?
Matt: Because if 12,000 people are saying that, I would say 100,000 people are saying they loved it — and they’ve been through domestic violence situations and they found the joke very funny. But they are actually able to deal with that situation in a comedic light.
Jordan: Right. Right.
Matt: And I commend that bravery. I can only imagine what it takes to get through something like that. But if I can help in any way, even if it was on accident, I feel great about that. 
<h2>Keep The Funny Jokes</h2>
Time 51:15
Jordan: How do you determine which jokes you keep? What kind of response are you looking for?
Matt: The most amount of laughter is the best outcome.
* * *
To hear all of the rest of the discussion, continue by listening or watching this episode on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/watch">DailyWire+</a>. 
<a href="https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/">Dr. Jordan B. Peterson</a> is a clinical psychologist and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. From 1993 to 1998 he served as assistant and then associate professor of psychology at Harvard. He is the international bestselling author of Maps of Meaning, 12 Rules For Life, and Beyond Order. You can now<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/the-jordan-b-peterson-podcast"> listen to</a> or<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/watch/jordan-peterson"> watch</a> his popular lectures on DailyWire+.

Matt Rife 5

Making People Laugh: A Conversation With Matt Rife

Psychology

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