The Dangers of Comedy

A comedian who used missing girl Cédrika Provencher as the punchline in a joke about ruthless tax collectors says he’s terrified to leave his home after getting death threats over the routine.

Mike Ward, a well-known Quebec stand-up comedian, says he’s getting angry looks and snide comments every time he goes out. “I haven’t been able to leave the house since Friday,” Mr. Ward says in a video message posted on his website.

“Everywhere I go, I get stared at. I get judged. Christ, there are two imbeciles on my street who have been in front of my house since Friday.”

snip

While the subject is extremely touchy, some of Cédrika’s family and other supporters say the gag is no cause for threats.

“I’d say it’s no time to make jokes on the topic of Cédrika, but it wasn’t really cruel and wasn’t aimed at her,” said the girl’s grandfather, Henri Provencher.

“I know it’s the comedian’s role to test the limits of taste, but we’ve still got an open wound, and this certainly picks at it. But it’s also not the time to react by going overboard.”

It always cracks me up when people threaten violence on someone for being insensitive because only the truly empathic want to kick the crap out of someone for things said.