[NathanMcMahon]

I'm sure some people don't now who he is, but he's basically a middling comedian who has a pretty funny show on Comedy Central that's like The Soup but with internet videos. I find his show funny but his stand-up is meh. Apparently he made some rape jokes and was heckled by a woman in the audience. His response was to immediately hit back with this:

After I called out to him, Tosh paused for a moment. Then, he says, "Wouldn't it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…"

This quote is from the woman who had heckled and here is the link for the full story (with some obvious bias): BoingBoing

Here's the story on Gawke as well with more info about why she heckled him: Gawker

I'm just wondering what GAF thinks of this. Who is right? Who is wrong? Is rape ever funny? Are there any topics that are taboo when it comes to comedy?

I think anything goes when it comes to comedy, but it obviously has to be tactful and intelligent.


Updated with new info

Comedy Club Owner Says Daniel Tosh Incident Has Been Misunderstood Masada says Tosh asked the audience, "What you guys want to talk about?" After someone in the front said "rape," a woman in the audience started screaming, "No, rape is painful, don’t talk about it." Then, Masada says, "Daniel came in, and he said, 'Well it sounds like she’s been raped by five guys' — something like that. I really didn’t hear properly." He continues, "It was a comment — it wasn’t a joke at the expense of this girl." Masada says that the woman then sat through the rest of Tosh's set — which received a standing ovation — before complaining to the manager about Tosh's joke. The manager apologized, Masada says, and offered her tickets to come back to the Laugh Factory for another performance, which she accepted. "If you’re offended why would you take a couple tickets to come back to the club again?" he says. "If you were offended, how about the rest of the audience" — 280 people total — "who’s giving a standing ovation?" Club owner says it went down differently.

[Alvarius]

Louis CK fans stay your hands.

[Eggman]

Even though I hate Tosh, comedy is comedy.

[Pein]

that can't be what he said, it just seems to blunt.

[CrankyJay]

Sounds like Tosh was unprepared for a heckler.

[NathanMcMahon]

that can't be what he said, it just seems to blunt.

Yeah, I'd like to see some video of it, but I'm guessing if it wasn't already released, then it doesn't exist.

[Fusebox]

All of Tosh's jokes are offensive, this one just happened to be aimed at an individual instead a race, religion or gender.

It was poor form if that's how it went down, but shock humor is his shtick. Sometimes I find him really damn funny, sometimes he makes me just cringe.

[SmokyDave]

Do we know what the jokes were?

I'm just wondering what GAF thinks of this. Who is right? Who is wrong? Is rape ever funny? Are there any topics that are taboo when it comes to comedy?

Heckler should've kept her mouth shut but comedian should've just told her to fuck off rather than reacting like he did.

Anything can be funny.

[Callo Merlose]

I hate it when comedians go for shock humor and I'm in now way a fan of Tosh. However, unless it's Jamie Foxx doing the heckling, then almost all hecklers deserve the shit that gets tossed their way.

[Aiii]

Really need some more context here.

[Salvor.Hardin]

Well if he was trying to be funny he sure failed.

[Captain Ganz]

Anything can be made fun of, why is this a problem?

Upon reading further: shit, she's a fucking heckler. The worst type of person. What the hell did she think a comedian would do when she tried to ruin his act? That opens you up for nearly anything the comedian has to offer.

[The Anti-Monitor]

If you're going to make a rape joke at least make it funny.

[Derrick01]

Don't see the big deal here at all. You don't go to a comedy show if you're going to get offended at everything. But hey she got her (small) publicity.

[NathanMcMahon]

Do we know what the jokes were? Heckler should've kept her mouth shut but comedian should've just told her to fuck off rather than reacting like he did. Anything can be funny.

I updated the OP with the Gawker source that has some more detail

[xenist]

Fuck hecklers. People paid money to hear the guy on stage not your dumb drunken ass. Zero sympathy for her butthurt.

[NathanMcMahon]

Anything can be made fun of, why is this a problem? Upon reading further: shit, she's a fucking heckler. The worst type of person. What the hell did she think a comedian would do when she tried to ruin his act? That opens you up for nearly anything the comedian has to offer.

Yeah, my immediate reaction was she should've just left if she found it offensive instead of engaging as a heckler. Anybody who knows heckling knows that you kind of open yourself up to being shit on by a comedian.

[Volimar]

I think that's what he said. I watched this all unfold on twitter last night. Sophia Bush went after him pretty hard about the whole thing. And then Dane Cook, who was at the comedy club when this all happened tweeted this:

@danecook: @danieltosh You should offer her 2 free tix to the Laugh Factory, go onstage & do the same routine. ‪

He's since deleted the tweet after it rekindled the shitstorm.

Edit - and my God, the "defense force for everything" crew is back I see. I guess GAF could only take so much goodwill...

[DeathNote]

Do we know what the jokes were? Heckler should've kept her mouth shut but comedian should've just told her to fuck off rather than reacting like he did. Anything can be funny.

Really need some more context here.

Well the link includes a rape joke of his. Youtube video. So I guess imagine a heckler getting mad at that, and then him saying that.

[Captain Ganz]

Do we know what the jokes were? Heckler should've kept her mouth shut but comedian should've just told her to fuck off rather than reacting like he did.

Tosh is a shock comedian who's whole schtick is making offensive jokes while remaining relatively cool. His whole act would go down in flames if he lost his shit telling her to fuck off, better he tried to play it off with humor. Whether you think it's funny is just your opinion.

[DiscoJer]

I had a friend in college who sort of inadvertently heckled Henry Cho (who was never particularly popular, but he's been on TV a few times). He was talking while the act was going on, which Mr. Cho didn't like and so exchanged a few barbs.

How did he solve it? He bought my friend a beer.

Which I thought was pretty cool.

[Fusebox]

@danecook: @danieltosh You should offer her 2 free tix to the Laugh Factory, go onstage & do the same routine. ‪

Now that's funny! Even more surprising that it came from Dane Cook.

[NathanMcMahon]

Tosh is a shock comedian who's whole schtick is making offensive jokes while remaining relatively cool. His whole act would go down in flames if he lost his shit telling her to fuck off, better he tried to play it off with humor. Whether you think it's funny is just your opinion.

Pretty much this. A comedian has maintain control, otherwise he'll lose the audience. He does this by making it funny. Whether it was funny (which I kind of think it was because of the shock value) is another thing that I'm seeing whether other people agree or not.

[Volimar]

Tosh is a shock comedian who's whole schtick is making offensive jokes while remaining relatively cool. His whole act would go down in flames if he lost his shit telling her to fuck off, better he tried to play it off with humor. Whether you think it's funny is just your opinion.

Playing it off is one thing. Insinuating that it would be hilarious if the woman that dared to speak up were raped right then and there is another. It was out of line.

The woman's side of the story can be found here:

http://breakfastcookie.tumblr.com/po...-a-comedy-club

[MidgarBlowedUp]

google "so a girl walks into a comedy club"

Sounds like she just didn't get the jokes.

[SmokyDave]

Tosh is a shock comedian who's whole schtick is making offensive jokes while remaining relatively cool. His whole act would go down in flames if he lost his shit telling her to fuck off, better he tried to play it off with humor. Whether you think it's funny is just your opinion.

You can tell someone to fuck off and stay cool. I do it all day long. It's not that I think his response was unfunny, I just think he kinda played into her hands.

[Juicy Bob]

Anything can be funny.

I see you as the sort of person who could genuinely laugh at even the darkest situations and times in your life and I really do think that's great. I wish I could be more like that in a way, but I just can't. There are some things I just couldn't bring myself to try and make light of, even if only to try and make something positive out of a very negative situation.

[DrBo42]

Sounds like a comedian with offensive material handling a heckler. Oh, that's exactly what happened.

[Alvarius]

Playing it off is one thing. Insinuating that it would be hilarious if the woman that dared to speak up were raped right then and there is another. It was out of line. The woman's side of the story can be found here: http://breakfastcookie.tumblr.com/po...-a-comedy-club

He can say whatever he wants. She has the right to be offended, but he has the freedom to offend her.

[daycru]

Playing it off is one thing. Insinuating that it would be hilarious if the woman that dared to speak up were raped right then and there is another. It was out of line.

"Dared to speak up" lol. Shut the fuck up, when you're on stage it's your turn to talk.

[Captain Ganz]

Playing it off is one thing. Insinuating that it would be hilarious if the woman that dared to speak up were raped right then and there is another. It was out of line.

A comedian making jokes is out of line?

Edit: I just noticed "the woman that dared to speak up".

Jesus christ. I don't think you realize just how fucking terrible hecklers are.

[NathanMcMahon]

You can tell someone to fuck off and stay cool. I do it all day long. It's not that I think his response was unfunny, I just think he kinda played into her hands.

It's not really about staying cool. If he were to jsut say fuck off, the show would come to a screeching halt. He has to turn the unfunniness of a heckler into material to keep the show funny. It's comedy mechanic that is important to master.

[Prophet Steve]

I think Daniel Tosh is an unfunny douche. And no Daniel, it wouldn't be funny.

Don't think it's too offensive though, just a very bad joke.

[shanshan310]

What. How is that even a joke?


EDIT: You don't wish rape on anyone. Its not funny, its fucking moronic.

[LordCanti]

When you engage a comedian, it becomes you vs the comedian. He has a mic, you don't. You're going to lose. It's best to not say anything at all.

Louis CK fans stay your hands.

Okay

(This whole thread is a trigger, but I'll just point out that this link is to a video that is also one. Clicker beware.)

[Fusebox]

He should've called her a nagger.

[Volimar]

He can say whatever he wants. She has the right to be offended, but he has the freedom to offend her.

Yes, he has the freedom to say what he wants without being arrested, that's not even the controversy here so the 1st amendment argument (if that's where you're going) doesn't apply.

I'm not surprised he said it, just like I wasn't surprised when the man show guy said women weren't as funny as men. Comedians have the right to say what they want, but not the right to say what they want free of repercussion. If there are consequences from it, well they deserve those too.

[NathanMcMahon]

When you engage a comedian, it becomes you vs the comedian. He has a mic, you don't. You're going to lose. It's best to not say anything at all. Okay

It's interesting because that's tactful and intelligent which is the obvious difference. Also, Louis is generally pretty well-loved and respected and Tosh is considered a douche which also makes this interesting.

[DeathNote]

So, watch the video in the Op. BoingBoing

Imagine the girl saying rape jokes aren't funny then Tosh saying

"Wouldn't it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…"

The girl walks out and doesn't hear the rest of what he said about her or rape.

The quote is pretty personally offensive to her, but without the rest of what he said we don't know if he softened the blow.

As far as rape jokes, he's a shock comedian. Rape isn't funny, Louis C.K. killing his kids isn't funny, but the jokes can get laughs from people even tho you're against the obvious brutal acts you know aren't going to happen.

[onadesertedisland]

I feel like the hecklers are akin to people grafitting art on display. Why go to a comedy show and be a dick, then get butthurt when the comedian targets them? It's a joke, an unfunny one, but a joke. There was no real threat of rape.

[Volimar]

So, watch the video in the Op. Imagine the girl saying rape jokes aren't funny then Tosh saying "Wouldn't it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…" The girl walks out and doesn't hear the rest of what he said about her or rape. The quote is pretty personally offensive to her, but without the rest of what he said we don't know if he softened the blow. As far as rape jokes, he's a shock comedian. Rape isn't funny, Louis C.K. killing his kids isn't funny, but they can get laughs from people even tho you're against it.

How is it even a joke to soften? I can't believe people are okay with this.

“Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…”

He's not making a joke. He's saying rape is always funny and then says wouldn't it be hilarious some woman in the audience got raped. What is the possible punchline to that?

[SteveWinwood]

Tosh isn't funny. The crime here is that people pay him. I don't even care what he says, he just should have never gotten the opportunity to say it.

[The Anti-Monitor]

"Wouldn't it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…" The girl walks out and doesn't hear the rest of what he said about her or rape.

"... And That's Terrible"

"... But she falls in love with them"

[Alvarius]

Okay (This whole thread is a trigger, but I'll just point out that this link is to a video that is also one. Clicker beware.)

"You don't like rape?"

[shanshan310]

How is it even a joke to soften? I can't believe people are okay with this. “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…” He's not making a joke. He's saying rape is always funny and then says wouldn't it be hilarious some woman in the audience got raped. What is the possible punchline to that?

Oh good, there is someone sane left.

[DeathNote]

How is it even a joke to soften? I can't believe people are okay with this. “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…” He's not making a joke. He's saying rape is always funny and then says wouldn't it be hilarious some woman in the audience got raped. What is the possible punchline to that?

He has a shtick where he does a 180/backtrack on vulgar stuff.

[Captain Ganz]

How is it even a joke to soften? I can't believe people are okay with this. “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…” He's not making a joke. He's saying rape is always funny and then says wouldn't it be hilarious some woman in the audience got raped. What is the possible punchline to that?

"I don't get it, so nobody should".

Edit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...WlBgj0uOc&NR=1

If the "rape jokes are never funny" crowd can't laugh at this, I feel sorry for them.

[Tomat]

Comedian says something kind of dumb to heckler, internet mob mentality appears to be in full force.

This whole thing is fucking dumb, and there's still going to be a 13 page discussion about this shit here on GAF.

Fuck everything.

[DrBo42]

No one is saying rape is okay and it really isn't funny. When a comedian comes on stage and says a rape joke it sometimes triggers that part of your brain where it's such an awful image that the only thing you can do is laugh. Kinda hard to explain but I don't think anyone believes rape is a subject for laughing.

[CountAntonius]

Comedian says something kind of dumb to heckler, internet mob mentality appears to be in full force. This whole thing is fucking dumb, and there's still going to be a 13 page discussion about this shit here on GAF. Fuck everything.

lol. You knew this one coming. Look at the thread title.

No one is saying rape is okay and it really isn't funny. When a comedian comes on stage and says a rape joke it sometimes triggers that part of your brain where it's such an awful image that the only thing you can do is laugh. Kinda hard to explain but I don't think anyone believes rape is a subject for laughing.

Yep Sometimes I feel surprised by the stuff I laugh at. Louis CK brought up raping a dead kid. Offensive as hell but the way he said it and in that context it was hilarious. This was a bad joke tis all.