Have you heard the one about the rapper, the comedian, and the Oscar? I can't remember the punch line, but I know it slaps. Not a great joke, but even bad jokes have their place. But when Chris Rock told an, admittedly, bad joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith, her husband, Will, slapped him.

There are many things concerning about what happened at the Oscars, but in my mind, as a comedy writer, the most frightening thing was to see cancel culture finally reach physical violence.

Will Smith’s action was coercive. He bitch-slapped a comedian to change the jokes in his act. Cancel culture has been doing that through de-platforming, taking away jobs, and applying significant social pressure for a while now.

The old saying, “don't shoot the messenger” was developed in Tudor England when the jester would be sent with an unwelcome message. The Jester would often be returned via trebuchet (catapult). Sometimes without his body. In a state of constant rivalry and warfare there is no room for jokes.

Unless you have discovered that history is a comedy. If, for example, you have come to realize that the whole of history is a long form joke, and the Devil is God's straight man, and the resurrection of Jesus is the punch line, then there is always room for a joke. Then the truth will often confront us in the form of wisecrack.

At Loor.tv, we are convinced that the world needs pastors, journalist, storytellers, and comedians that all are free to tell the truth. Especially the uncomfortable truths. And, unlike the Fresh Prince, we won’t be slapping our jesters. We will be throwing elbows to make room for them to do what God has called them to do. Diffuse the lies that hold us captive with punch lines that set us free. Because even a bad joke can hold an important message for a free people.

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