Can We Laugh at That?

Did you hear the one about the comedian who was canceled? Comedians are no strangers to controversy or crossing the line. But some things do change. Humorists the world over are no longer simply denounced in grouchy op-eds. Now comedians are being hounded by criminal investigations and civil suits. They are menaced by vigilantes and religious fundamentalists. Some have been forced into exile, imprisoned, or even murdered. In the age of social media and global digital distribution, the audience is everyone, ensuring that criticism can be as vicious as it is unavoidable. Darkly witty, and with a flair for storytelling, Jacques Berlinerblau explores the high stakes of the low blow from popular comedians such as Chris Rock, Dave Chapelle, and Sarah Silverman to humorists from France to Zimbabwe, Egypt, and North Korea. As comedians face growing legal and physical peril, not just humor but laughter itself is becoming suspect.