Opinion: Transphobia? Bajd U Bejken’s Terry Joke Reveals How Far Malta’s Comedy Scene Has To Go
The comedy police are out in full force, straight up calling for Bajd u Bejken to be cancelled over a crass joke they made about Terry Muscat at a recent comedy show.
Some people are interpreting the joke as a personal attack against her and the trans community in general, and Terry has gone as far as getting the police involved – as though they didn’t have anything better to do.
But let’s not miss the obvious point. This was not a political rally or some kind of public policy statement. It was a crass joke told by comedians during a comedy show to an audience that paid to hear dark humour.
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It might not be everyone’s cup of tea – jokes are always subjective after all – but this is why calls for restrictions on what material people should use in their comedy acts are problematic.
A joke that is acceptable to Person A might be offensive to Person B and vice versa – remember when Gordon Manche reported a comedian to the police for calling him an asshole and the police took action?
So where do we draw the line? Do we want a creative space where comedians are constantly second-guessing their every line, fearful of backlash rather than focused on timing, punchlines and flow?
Oftentimes, the more comedians are forced into a straitjacket, the less funny their jokes become.
Malta has witnessed something of a stand-up comedy boom in recent years, giving people an alternative option for a fun night out. I have been to quite a few of these shows, and believe me when I say that this joke in question was tame in comparison to much of what is said on stage.
Not every joke goes down well but no one assumes they reflect the comedians’ actual opinions or calls the police.
To be clear, I am not endorsing cruelty or mockery for its own sake, but would like to preserve a comedy space where comedians have as free a rein as possible – because that’s often where the best comedy lives.
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