Conan O’Brien criticizes comedians who are just anti-Trump and too serious
Conan O’Brien recently took part in a nearly hour-long discussion with Oxford Union, criticizing comedians whose material was dominated by serious anti-Trump commentary. The former late night host said Trump isn’t good for comedy in general because “comedy needs a straight line to go off of, and we don’t have that right now. We have a very bendy, rubbery line” (via Mediaite).
“Some comics go the route of ‘I’m just going to say ‘F Trump’ all the time’… that’s their comedy,” O’Brien said.” And I’m kind of thinking now that you’re being co-opted because you’re so angry. You are lulled to sleep. It’s like a siren leading you into the rocks. You’ve been lulled to sleep just by saying “F Trump.” F Trump. F Trump. Fuck this guy.” And I think you’ve now put down your best weapon, which is to be funny, and you’ve traded it in for anger.”
O’Brien pushed back against the idea that because the state of the world has become so serious, it means that comedians must always be serious too.
“That person or any person who would say, ‘Well, things are too serious now. I don’t have to be funny.’ And I think if you’re a comedian, you always have to be funny,” he said. “You just have to find a way. And you just have to find a way to channel that anger in a way… because good art will always be a great weapon, always a perfect weapon against power. But if you’re just yelling and just angry, you’ve lost your best tool in the toolbox.”
O’Brien found himself at the center of a Trump controversy last year when he attended the Kennedy Center event to accept the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The event took place following the election of Donald Trump to the Kennedy Center board and his takeover of the center. Trump has since controversially added his name to the building.
“Obviously, there have been controversial things happening at the Kennedy Center over the last few months under the new administration,” O’Brien said during an August episode of his podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” months after his ceremony. “There was a question of, ‘Should I go? Should I not go?’ And I felt it was important to show up.”
O’Brien explained that he was rewarded by the “old regime” and that he “felt we should respect their decision.” The event was the first national event at the Kennedy Center since Chairman David Rubenstein and President Deborah Rutter were replaced by Trump last February.
O’Brien is currently the host of the popular podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” and will return to host the Oscars in March. Watch his full conversation with Oxford Union in the video below.
