Under the constant watch of social media, should we be able to make jokes about anything? This comedian thinks so. Here is what Mr. Bean star Rowan Atkinson recently had to say about cancel culture. 

Recently, Rowan Atkinson did an interview with the Irish Times to promote his new Netflix series, Man Vs Bee.

There, he voiced his concerns about the future of comedy.

“It does seem to me that the job of comedy is to offend, or have the potential to offend, and it cannot be drained of that potential. Every joke has a victim.” 

— Rowan Atkinson in Irish Times interview, June 2022

During his four decades in entertainment, this is not the first time Atkinson has defended freedom of speech.

The 67-year-old actor who portrayed Mr. Bean often warns about putting restrictions on the topics of jokes. He has closely fought against any laws that limit that right. 

“It becomes a case of either you’re with us or against us. And if you’re against us, you deserve to be ‘cancelled’. It’s important that we’re exposed to a wide spectrum of opinion, but what we have now is the digital equivalent of the medieval mob roaming the streets looking for someone to burn,” the comedian said to the Radio Times about cancel culture in early 2021.

But where should we draw the line between comedy and the right to say what we want? 

Mr. Bean and Me Versus Cancel Culture

In short, I agree with Rowan Atkinson. There should be no line between comedy and freedom of speech. 

Why? Because the two are unrelated. 

Freedom of speech gives the right to say what we want as long as it doesn’t incite harm unto others.

At least in the United States, the Constitution says nothing about other people having to like it. 

The truth about haters is that they’ll always find a reason to hate, especially when they don’t agree with you.

And if cancel culture persists, it will only increase the fear of having opposing opinions.

Openly discussing different opinions is the only way that we can make progress and develop real solutions. 

Let’s get rid of this cancel culture, so we can all be great. 

Grant Cardone

Let me know what your thoughts are on cancel culture. Drop a comment with your opinion — no matter what it is — below.

Featured image source: Rotten Tomatoes

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