Marc Maron Disagrees With ‘Joker’ Director’s About ‘Woke

On the newest episode of his podcast, comic Marc Maron respectfully disagreed with latest complaints by “Joker” director Todd Phillips that “woke culture” has basically killed comedy. “The only thing that’s off the table culturally at this juncture,” Maron instructed listeners, “is shamelessly punching down for the sheer joy of hurting people.”

In a Vanity Fair cowl story this month, Phillips mentioned that “woke culture” means “comedies don’t work anymore… all the f—ing funny guys are like, ‘F— this shit, because I don’t want to offend you.’”

Phillips additionally complained that it’s now not attainable to be “irreverent” in comedy in consequence.

On Thursday’s episode of “WTF with Marc Maron,” Maron, who has a supporting position in “Joker,” took a couple of minutes to deal with “that tired saw, that old saw.”

Also Read: ‘Gemini Man,’ ‘Addams Family’ Unlikely to Upset ‘Joker’ on the Box Office

“There’s plenty of people being funny right now. Not only being funny but being really f—ing funny,” Maron mentioned. There are nonetheless traces to be crossed and envelopes to be pushed, he continued, however “really, the only thing that’s off the table culturally at this juncture, and not even entirely, is shamelessly punching down for the sheer joy of hurting people. For the sheer excitement and laughter that some people get from causing people pain, for making people uncomfortable, for making people feel excluded.”

But, Maron mentioned, “it’s no excuse. If you’re too intimidated to attempt to do comedy that’s deep or provocative, or perhaps a little controversial, with out hurting individuals, then I imply, you’re not good at what you do. Or perhaps you’re simply insensitive.”

Maron mirrored on his personal comedy profession, and the way early on, his comedy was rather more deliberately provocative, and the way he nonetheless hears that “anti-woke racket” being expressed at present. He mentioned he additionally believes “there is an earnestness to people who say that’s what they want to do. I believe that they don’t think they’re hurting people, I believe they don’t think they’re causing trouble. They enjoy the challenge of pushing the envelope just to see if they can do it.”

Also Read: Is Joaquin Phoenix Actually Playing the Real Joker in ‘Joker’?

However, Maron continued, “If you want to quit making comedy like Todd said he did, if you want to quit doing comedy, fine. Just quit. Just don’t do it anymore. But to sit there and complain that it’s gotten too difficult, well what are you, are you just not good enough, can’t rise to the occasion or you can’t figure out a way around a new perspective? That’s just the deal. Maybe it’s time for you to quit.”

“No one’s telling you that you can’t say things or do things. It’s just that it’s going to be received a certain way by certain people, and you’re going to have to shoulder that. And if you’re isolated, or marginalized or pushed into a corner because of your point of view or what you have to say, yet you still have a crew of people that enjoy it, there you go. Those are your people,” he mentioned.

Maron concluded by reflecting on his private improvement, saying that he’s “leveled off into being a little more vulnerable, a little more concerned, a little more reflective, a little older,” and that he’d “kind of like to have an adult conversation, and not some sort of strange man-child, adolescent, aggravated, angry, entitled conversation.”

Listen to the entire episode right here. Maron’s feedback about comedy start roughly 5 minutes in.

Representatives for Phillips didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from TheWrap.