Comedians seem to be getting more and more limited with the kinds of jokes they can tell on stage without backlash these days, and one person who sees this as unfortunate would be Rowan Atkinson. As someone who had spent many years in comedy with shows like Mr. Bean, Blackadder, and Johnny English, Atkinson is pretty well known in the world of comedy. Fans can check out more of his brand of slapstick humor in the new Netflix series Man vs. Bee which releases this week.
In a new interview with the Irish Times, Atkinson touched on the current climate in comedy and how it has been affected by “cancel culture.” For his part, Atkinson doesn’t understand the controversy when it comes to comedians getting in trouble for telling offensive jokes. He believes that the very nature of comedy is to offend as every joke needs to target someone.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
The argument has been made that comedians should never “punch down” with their material. When Atkinson was asked if comedians should instead “kick up” by only joking about people in high positions of power, the Mr. Bean star suggested that comedians should be able to joke about anything.
Rowan Atkinson Stars in Man vs. Bee
Netflix
Atkinson’s latest work has the actor quarreling with a bee. Aptly titled Man vs. Bee, the series is set to hit Netflix on June 24. You can check out the official synopsis for the series below, along with an official trailer that will give fans a sneak peek at what’s to come from Atkinson with his latest comedy role.
