*Trigger warning: discussions of sexual assault and rape*
Let’s talk about rape jokes.
(Oh, God. Let’s please not talk about rape jokes.)
No. Sorry. We’re going to do it. We’re going to talk about rape jokes.
There’s this stupid debate that keeps happening. And it’s not really a debate when it gets down to it.
The non-debate goes like this. Some comedian makes a spectacularly dumb joke about rape. And a bunch of people say, “Hey. That joke wasn’t funny and actually kind of offended me.” And then some other people say, “HOW DARE YOU SAY RAPE JOKES CAN’T BE FUNNY.”
Here’s the thing. No one is saying rape jokes can never be funny. They can be. Sometimes, they’re even hilarious.
How do I know? Well, “Inside Amy Schumer” premiered last night on Comedy Central. And it featured one of the funniest sketches I’ve ever seen. It’s a parody of “Friday Night Lights.” You know the show from a few years back with the stoic football coach in the stoic Texas town. And his stoic dancing wife?
It also happens to be about rape.
Why are Schumer’s rape jokes funny when so many others are dumb and offensive?
They mock the people who deserve to be mocked: rapists.
Listen. To be honest, I don’t want to talk about rape jokes any more than you do. It’s exhausting, and I’d rather be outside enjoying the nice day and getting a burger somewhere.
So for the last time, here’s a handy guide.
Rape jokes that have “Rape! Ha ha!” as their punchline? Definitely not funny.
Rape jokes that attack rapists? Potentially hilarious.
The end of the sketch says it best.
