The Curious Case of “Canceled” Comedians

Why do comedians believe they’re being silenced?

Photo by Kevin Snow on Unsplash

On September 24, Netflix will premiere Ellen DeGeneres’ second and final stand-up comedy special made for the streaming service, For Your Approval. The trailer made waves for featuring a moment where the former talk show host says she was “kicked out of show business”, and DeGeneres has supposedly told fans during her routine that this special will mark the end of her entertainment career.

The phrase she used is particularly ironic in the context of a performance that will be seen by a truckload of people in 190 countries, basically the polar opposite of being “kicked out” of the business. Granted, her talk show did come to an end in response to a workplace environment controversy (former staffers accused her executive producers of being verbally abusive, and rumors of her not being as kind as she portrays herself on television also circulated), but the fact she’s since gone on to make a special for Netflix would suggest there’s still plenty of goodwill towards her and no one is trying to silence her.