Comedy Quote by Lindy West
““Stigma works like this: Comic makes people with herpes the butt of his joke. Audience laughs. People with herpes see their worst fears affirmed - they are disgusting, broken, unlovable. People without herpes see their worst instincts validated - they are clean, virtuous, better. Everyone agrees that no one wants to fuck someone with herpes. If people with herpes want to object, they have to 1) publicize the fact that they have herpes, and 2) be accused of oversensitivity, of ruining the fun. Instead, they stay quiet and laugh along. The joke does well. So well that maybe the comedian writes another one.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Stigma and Humor, The New Yorker, 2019
Comedy can reinforce harmful stereotypes by making marginalized groups the punchline, causing both internalized shame and external validation of prejudice.
In simple terms: Jokes can perpetuate stigma and silence victims.
Key Takeaway
Challenge jokes that dehumanize.
Themes
stigma
humor
social justice
Mood
critical
empathetic
provocative
Type
opinion
social commentary
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- online commentary
- advocacy campaigns
Key Concepts
media influence
psychology
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can comedians address topics without reinforcing bias?
- What alternatives exist to critique without victim-blaming?
A Different Perspective
Humor can also be used to subvert stigma; context matters.
