Soviet-born Konstantin Kisin feels "right at home" when UK college dictates "no go" topics for comedy routine
10-14-18, c. 30 mins in
In a segment called "The End of Comedy", Tucker invited comedian Konstantin Kisin to comment on a recent agreement he was asked to sign before being allowed to perform at an unnamed college in London. It included a list of banned topics, including:
racism, sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-religion, or anti-atheim
Tucker [to home audience]: That's a long list! What was he supposed to joke about?…Well, we've asked him to come on tonight to tell us about it. [Kisin chose not to perform.]
Tucker (trying not to crack up): First, is that real? Did you make up that list? Is this a comedy bit?
[Camera cuts to Kisin.]
Kisin: No, it's not, [although] it's been very good for my comedy. If you go deeper into the contract, they also demanded that "all jokes must be respectful and kind"….
[Tucker cracks up again.]
Kisin: As you know, I was born in the Soviet Union, and getting this contract made me feel right at home. [You can't make this stuff up!!!]
[Tucker is still trying not to laugh as the two chat some more about the problems of modern censorship and where comedians stand in all of this.]
Kisin: "We're the canary in the coal mine…It's [really] about ordinary people up and down the country–in Britain and in America–feeling like they can't say what they think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxZzcI1aC5U
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Sound silly? The UK press is ALL OVER THE STORY. See below.
Sauce:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6484947/Comedian-pulls-university-charity-event-asked-sign-behaviour-contract.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46541002
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/11/university-society-asked-comedians-sign-safe-space-contracts/