Ben Stiller urges comedians to keep pushing the boundaries.
In a recent interview with Radio Times, the “Severance” director said comedy faces unprecedented challenges in the current political climate. But he urged those involved in the genre not to back down in the face of external pressure.
“We live in a world where it’s more difficult to take a chance on comedy,” Stiller said. “In our country, we see that front and center. But I think it’s important that comedians continue to do what they do, speak truth to power, and be free to say what they want to say. That’s the most important thing.”
Free speech in comedy has been a top priority in Hollywood since late-night host Jimmy Kimmel was briefly removed from ABC after making on-air comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. ABC has suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” It aired on September 17th, and the station rebroadcast the program on September 22nd.
Stiller went on to point out another threat to comedy: social media. He worries that the hyperactive nature of platforms like TikTok and Instagram is compromising viewers’ attention spans and diluting comedians’ craft.
“There are works that reach large audiences very quickly,” Stiller said. “I think we’ve reduced our attention spans a little bit. We’re lucky to have grown up in an analog world.”
Stiller was one of Hollywood’s most successful comedies in the late ’90s and early ’20s, appearing in films such as Happy Gilmore, Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Anchorman, Dodgeball, and Tropic Thunder.
