Like a kid on Christmas morning, I was rejoicing at a month where Matt Rife, Ricky Gervais, and Dave Chappelle comedy specials were airing on Netflix — all in the same month.
Three of my favourite comedians who laugh in the face of woke culture and say exactly what they want to say without worrying about the consequences, harking back to the days when comedy was actually funny and not censored or watered down to the point where many comedians were changing their entire routines to cater to this wave of soft Karens hellbent on cancelling anyone who stepped out of line.
December 2025 was the first time in a very long time that I felt as though the world was healing, and 2026 seems to be kicking off in the same vein.
We’re suddenly getting comedy commissioned for the big screen once again. Think of the last time we saw a truly laugh-out-loud comedy in cinemas — it was a long time ago, as studios have been too afraid to push out comedy movies for fear of backlash or poor revenue returns.
For years, jokes arrived with disclaimers. Punchlines tiptoed. Every laugh carried the faint anxiety of wondering whether you were allowed to enjoy it. Somewhere along the way, comedy — the art form historically built on discomfort, exaggeration, and saying the wrong thing at exactly the right time — started sounding like it had been run through a corporate HR filter.
Audiences are laughing again. Loudly. Publicly. Without checking X first.
Comedians are now saying the quiet part out loud, and this cultural shift is something I can wholly get behind.
Matt Rife has gone from a crowd-work TikTok star to a revolutionary comedian. His humour thrives on spontaneity, improv, and the occasional “did he just say that?” moment. His sell-out crowds and incredible viewing numbers show there is very much a demand for his edgy comedy. I also want to thank Matt for liking a few of our X posts recently — or, rather, whoever runs his social media pages. I appreciate that a LOT. From a British stranger, thanks for shining light through the darker times.
Ricky Gervais is another comedian who deserves a mention (also another gentleman who liked a couple of X posts recently, so thank you). Comedy’s most cheerful arsonist really doesn’t give a f**k who he offends, and I absolutely love that. Ricky dares his audience not to laugh, and we all get suckered in and end up laughing even harder.
Dave Chappelle is another comedian we must protect at all costs. A recent trip to Saudi Arabia was met with significant backlash — so what did Dave do? He made jokes about it and doubled down on his decision to go. I love that. It takes some balls to double down on your beliefs and decisions, and Dave’s recent special was a true testament to a man who knows his own mind and won’t be convinced, persuaded, or driven to think or act any differently.
What unites these comedians isn’t shock for shock’s sake — it’s confidence. They trust the audience to get the joke, and the audience is rewarding that trust.
And it’s not just stand-up comedy that’s heading in the right direction — the movie industry is following suit, as Hollywood slowly but surely begins trusting comedy films again.
This past week, we got the announcement that Jackass 5 is getting a cinematic release, and nothing hits harder than going to the cinema with complete strangers and laughing together at the outrageous, gross-out things you’ll witness on screen.
It’s refreshing to watch something so unapologetically stupid — grown adults putting themselves through pain for our viewing pleasure. It’s mindless fun, and it’s much needed in a world that is taking everything so god damn seriously.
Marlon Wayans and director Michael Tiddes also laughed in the face of woke culture when they announced that their upcoming film Scary Movie 6 will mock everything — and they mean everything. They’ve promised audiences they won’t be going woke; in fact, quite the opposite.
This is a giant shift, helmed by incredible individuals who are braving the backlash to bring audiences a much-needed laugh.
People are getting fed up with being told what’s appropriate or acceptable. Audiences just want to laugh and feel human again.
Comedy always works best when it’s a little dangerous — when jokes live on the edge of discomfort. That, for me, is the best kind of comedy, and being together with random strangers at a show or in a theatre enjoying these moments is a special thing indeed.
Comedy isn’t becoming cruel. It isn’t regressing. And it isn’t “winning” or “losing” a culture war.
It’s simply doing what it always does when things get too tight: pushing back with jokes — and may that pushback continue.
Sometimes, the bravest thing comedy can do is be funny again.
And judging by the noise coming from clubs, streaming platforms, and theatres, people are more than ready to laugh.
