Wanda Sykes comes out swinging in her first special since before the pandemic, and she has plenty to say about January 6, police brutality, Roe v. Wade, Kanye, and drag shows.
When asked about being labeled a “woke” comic, she told Variety:
It’s pretty funny. If you want to give me the label of a “woke comic,” that’s fine. That’s great. What makes me laugh is that they say that like it’s an insult: “Oh, they’re woke.” Thank you! Yeah, I read some stuff from time to time. Yeah, I know a few things. It’s not an insult at all. I mean, George Carlin, he was woke. Richard Pryor, woke. Bill Hicks, woke. It’s almost like they’re angry that we’re evolving. It’s sad, really.
She says it’s important to keep things in perspective: “In this country, they would hold public lynchings and people would have picnics and eat potato salad while watching. We’re evolving. We’re getting better.”
Sykes’ bits about trans people and bathrooms stand in stark contrast to Netflix star Dave Chappelle, who has been accused of transphobia for bits in his special The Closer and his subsequent reactions. She isn’t too worried about the pendulum swinging toward conservatism in politics and comedy, per Variety:
The steps back in both the news and comedy, that’s what makes the most noise, instead of the progress we’re making. I think they’re just louder, all the Trump supporters and all that. But I like to focus on the wins. I mean, there are not a lot of them, but I like to like to celebrate them!
And lest you think it’s all serious and political, she has some hilarious stories about her wife Alex and raising Gen Z kids.
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Image: YouTube / Netflix
