Comedian Judy Gold is concerned about the censorship of young comedians and the tendency of social media to unearth old jokes. In her off-Broadway show, “Yes, I Can Say That!,” Gold argues that comedians are important for democracy because they “speak truth to power” and connect with people. She is critical of both the left and the right for their quickness to judge and condemn and believes that people have a right to talk about what they know and have experienced.
Comedian Judy Gold is concerned about censorship in comedy clubs and the tendency for social media to bring up old jokes, stating that comedians are important for democracy because they speak truth to power and connect with people.
In a recent interview with Page Six, comedian Judy Gold expressed her concerns about the current state of stand-up comedy. Gold discovered that young comedians are being censored in certain clubs, particularly in Brooklyn, where they are prohibited from broaching certain topics or using specific phrases in order to get stage time. She is particularly worried about social media’s tendency to bring up comedian’s jokes from years ago – “the world was a different place and the words have different meanings”. She believes this is a “precarious situation” for the future of stand-up comedy.
Gold argues that comedians are important for democracy because “we do speak truth to power,” and connect with people on a deeper level. She also highlights the importance of comedy that makes people think, or sees the world through another person’s lens. Gold directs “Yes, I Can Say That!”, a one-woman show off-Broadway, based on her book exploring the nature of censorship in comedy.
Gold criticizes both sides of the political spectrum for swiftly “judging and condemning” comedians for their material. She argues that we need to listen to the comedian’s intent and judge their work as a whole, rather than cherry-picking words or phrases that are potentially offensive. Gold believes it is crucial to recognise the diversity of the people involved in comedy and that everyone has the right to talk about what they know and have experienced.
Throughout her career, Gold has been outspoken on LGBTQ, Jewish issues and fighting against anti-Semitism. She vents her frustration over the recent upsurge in anti-Semitic acts in her interview with Page Six. She refers to the community as “two-tenths of one percent of the population!”, who are continually targeted for criticism. She maintains that if people hate the Jewish community so much, “don’t take part or use anything we’ve contributed to the world. So, enjoy your cell phones and your artificial hearts and your medicine and your military — go f–k yourself!”
Judy Gold is a veteran of stand-up comedy, a Daytime Emmy winner and an influential voice in the world of comedy. Her rise to prominence has seen her overcome challenges and criticisms from both the right and the left. She continues to advocate for free speech and the “right to laugh” in an increasingly censorious world.