Comedians complaining about "cancel culture" have become the "the tiresome cowards they accuse their critics of being"

The New Republic

"As far as comedy is concerned, 'cancel culture' seems to be the name mediocrities and legends on their way to mediocrity have given their own waning relevance," says Osita Nwanevu of what he describes as "The 'Cancel Culture' Con." Nwanevu is referring specifically to Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr's recent Netflix standup specials and the controversy over Shane Gillis' firing from SNL. "They’ve set about scolding us about scolds, whining about whiners, and complaining about complaints because they would rather cling to material that was never going to stay fresh and funny forever than adapt to changing audiences, a new set of critical concerns, and a culture that might soon leave them behind," he says. "In desperation, they’ve become the tiresome cowards they accuse their critics of being." As Nwanevu points out, there's a large audience for comedians who enjoy using phrases like "triggered," "safe spaces" and "cancel culture" -- "and comedy marketers are hip to it." He adds that cancel culture, "as best as one can tell, seems to describe the phenomenon of being criticized by multiple people—often but not exclusively on the internet. Neither the number of critics, the severity of the criticism, nor the extent of the actual fallout from it seem particularly important. A great many people find Louis CK to be disgusting. The same can’t yet be said for guacamole. Both, we’re told urgently, have been canceled."