Comedian David Lucas is facing a backlash after making a joke about George Floyd’s death during a recent stand-up show. Lucas, who is known for his roast battles and appearances on podcasts such as Kill Tony and The Joe Rogan Experience, was performing what seemed like a normal set, when he got into a heated exchange with a heckler in the audience.
What Inappropriate Joke Did Comedian David Lucas Say About George Floyd’s Death?
According to the footage, the heckler, who was a black man, started making fat jokes about Lucas, after he made fun of his appearance. Lucas responded by insulting the heckler’s clothes, and physical features, and challenged him to come on stage and face him. The heckler refused, saying that there was no room for him on the stage, implying that Lucas was too fat.
That’s when David Lucas joked about George Floyd’s death in the worst way possible. Lucas then said, “This n**** trying to ruin the whole show. All these good white people at my show, and you want to show them the reason George Floyd got his neck kneeled on”.
Not only did he disrespect George Floyd’s death, but he also brought white people into the joke, when it was a white cop who murdered him.
The joke, which referenced the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis last year, was met with gasps and boos from the crowd. Many black people in the audience walked out in protest, while some white people laughed nervously or applauded. Lucas seemed very unapologetic despite the intense reaction from black people in the crowd.
How Social Media is Reacting to Black People Walking David Lucas’ Show After His Joke About George Floyd’s Death
Lucas’ joke was widely criticized on social media, where many people called for him to be canceled and banned from comedy clubs. Some alleged comedians also condemned his joke, saying that it was insensitive, disrespectful, and unfunny. They argued that Lucas crossed a line that should not be crossed in comedy, and that he exploited a tragedy that caused pain and suffering to millions of people.
However, some of Lucas’ fans and supporters defended him, saying that he was just doing his job as a comedian and that he had the right to joke about anything he wanted. They claimed that Lucas was being unfairly targeted by the cancel culture and that his joke was taken out of context. They also pointed out that Lucas had made jokes about other sensitive topics in the past, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia, and that he was not afraid to offend anyone.
Lucas himself has not issued a formal apology or statement about his joke. Some people are wondering if he might face legal consequences for his joke, as George Floyd’s family had filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis and the four officers involved in his death. Has a comedian ever been sued for an insensitive joke?
Lucas’ joke has reignited the debate over the boundaries and ethics of comedy, especially in the wake of the social justice movements that have swept the world in the past year. Many comedians have faced criticism and backlash for making jokes that were deemed offensive, inappropriate, or harmful by some groups or individuals.
Some of them have apologized and changed their style, while others have refused to back down and defended their freedom of expression.
Some of the questions that have emerged from this debate are: What are the limits of comedy? Who decides what is funny and what is not? What is the role and responsibility of comedians in society? How do comedians balance between being edgy and being respectful? How do comedians deal with the consequences of their jokes?
These are not easy questions to answer, and they may not have a definitive answer at all. Comedy, like any other form of art, is subjective and personal. What makes one person laugh may make another person cry. What is acceptable to one culture may be taboo to another. What is relevant to one generation may be outdated to another.
However, one thing that is clear is that comedy is not immune to the changes and challenges that are happening in the world. Comedy is not a safe space where anything goes. Comedy is not a license to be cruel or ignorant. Comedy is not a shield from accountability or criticism. Comedy is a powerful tool that can be used for good or evil, for healing or hurting, for uniting or dividing.
Comedy is a reflection of reality, and reality is complex and diverse. Comedy is a dialogue, and dialogue requires listening and understanding. Comedy is a risk, and risk requires courage and humility.
Comedy is an art, and art requires creativity and responsibility. David Lucas joking about George Floyd’s death was simply uncalled for.
