<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1655633434921,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-8cce-d87c-af7f-ddce9ca80000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1655633434921,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-8cce-d87c-af7f-ddce9ca80000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_55396539", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1034104"} }); ","_id":"00000181-7b71-ddb6-a5eb-7b71520b0000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video Embed
The star of British sitcom Mr. Bean, comedian Rowan Atkinson, blasted what he described as cancel culture’s drain on comedy and free speech.
“It does seem to me that the job of comedy is to offend, or have the potential to offend, and it cannot be drained of that potential,” Atkinson told the Irish Times. “Every joke has a victim. That’s the definition of a joke. Someone or something or an idea is made to look ridiculous.”
Rowan Atkinson
Atkinson pushed back at the notion that comedy should only target those in positions of authority.
‘NO MOUSE IN MY HOUSE’: NYC BILLBOARD SLAMS DISNEY’S ‘WOKE’ CULTURE WAR
“I think you’ve got to be very, very careful about saying what you’re allowed to make jokes about,” the actor said. “What if there’s someone extremely smug, arrogant, aggressive, self-satisfied, who happens to be below in society? They’re not all in houses of parliament or in monarchies.”
“In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything,” he added, noting that people use social media to take jokes out of their original context. “Not all jokes are for everyone.”
Atkinson joins comedians Bill Maher, Steve Harvey, and Dave Chapelle, who have also blasted cancel culture. While speaking on a Television Critics Association press tour in January, Harvey said only comedians who are not sponsored can say what they want, noting that “every joke hurts somebody’s feelings.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Atkinson’s latest comedy show, Man vs. Bee, will be available on Netflix June 24.
