Comedy vs. Cancel Culture: Where’s the Line?

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Anand Mahalingam is an actor, comedian, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. With credits in For All Mankind, MasterCard commercials, and How I Met Your Father, he has also performed stand-up nationwide, including all three rooms of The Comedy Store in LA. Anand is the lead in Ronnie California, The King of Artesia, a short film exploring the Indian immigrant experience through comedy, which he hopes to expand into a feature film.

 In this episode of The Humanity of Fame, host Kali and guest Anand Mahalingam dive into the controversial landscape of comedy in today’s politically charged world. With debates raging about censorship, cancel culture, and free speech, they discuss whether comedians are pushing boundaries or crossing the line. Anand shares his perspective on punching up vs. punching down, the evolution of comedy, and how humor can be a powerful tool for social commentary.

Key Topics:

• Has Political Correctness Gone Too Far? Exploring whether audiences are becoming too sensitive or if certain jokes should no longer be acceptable.
• Good Jokes vs. Bad Jokes: Why "It's just a joke" isn't always a valid excuse and how great comedy requires thought and originality.
• Who Gets to Decide What’s Offensive? The subjectivity of humor and how comedians must adapt to changing social norms.
• Comedy and Cultural Identity: How Anand’s film Ronnie California blends immigrant experiences, humor, and societal expectations.
• The Social Power of Comedy: How stand-up can challenge authority, spark conversation, and break down barriers between cultures.

Potential Listener Questions:

1. Has political correctness made it harder for comedians to do their job?
2. What makes a joke "good" vs. "offensive"?
3. Should comedians be given more leeway than regular people when making controversial statements?
4. How does comedy help break down cultural barriers and challenge societal norms?

References and Links:

• Follow Anand Mahalingam on Social Media: @YAINANDBHAI
• Message Anand for a private screening of Ronnie California, The King of Artesia

Final Thoughts:

Anand reminds us that great comedy isn’t just about making people laugh—it’s about making them think. While humor evolves, it remains one of the most powerful tools for storytelling, cultural critique, and connection.

Find out more about Kali and the show HERE: https://humanityoffame.com/