Jeff Dunham Is (sit down for this one) A Racist
Nov 03, 2009 - By Ian Fortey
As we’ve previously mentioned, comedian Jeff Dunham is not funny. Not by a longshot. If you laugh at Dunham you are, very likely, a bad person. That’s not hyperbole. You seriously need to consider why you laugh at him. Because Dunham is about as hateful as a human can get while still having his hand jammed in a puppet’s ass.
There are a myriad of forms comedy can take, from slapstick to satire to sarcasm. Basically all S words. Dunham is suck. The issue, of course, is that Dunham is a racist. Not a little racist, not a guy who crosses the street when he sees a black person or keeps an eye on the Muslim guy at the airport, he’s the big fat racist who sees the black guy, crosses the street, goes home and writes a comedy routine in which he makes an ugly puppet call the black guy a malt liquor drinking, unemployed porch monkey and watches as a crowd of inbreds laughs at it.
Being successful doesn’t equate to being good or talented, this is witnessed by countless modern Grammy winners and basically every show ever put out by CBS since you were born. So Dunham’s success isn’t a measure of how funny he is, rather how sad a group of people as a whole, his fans, truly are.
Often we here at FunnyCrave eschew “linking” lest people think we research our articles and/or have informed opinions. We can’t have that trolling the rumor mill, but in this instance we’re forced to point readers towards this article in the New York Times, one of the most hilarious newspapers you’ll ever read, right next to the Butte Probe.
The article is written in a nearly surreal voice whereby, if you let it, you’ll gloss over the entire point it is inadvertently making and actually, potentially, start to sympathize with Dunham fans. You might even start to laugh at ventriloquism. Ventriloquism isn’t funny.
Much of the article points out what Dunham’s people want you to know. He has a huge fanbase, it’s multi-generational and his material is cleaner than many comedians. Cute, he’s fun for the whole family. Families of people who look at a hideous, purple monstrosity and seem unable to appreciate when it makes fun of, say, Asians. Or Hispanics. Or Black people.
At one point the article details Dunham’s realization that the puppet allowed him to tell jokes he was too shy to tell. This, in a nutshell, is saying he used the puppet as a surrogate because he knows, deep down, you shouldn’t go around saying racist shit. Because it’s racist. And not really a joke. Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. That’s a joke. Why did the black man cross the road? Because his master made him. That’s not a joke. You can call it a joke, but it’s not a joke. It’s a man with his hand in a puppet being a dipshit (incidentally, if a puppet ever utters that line on stage, Dunham is so being sued).
On page three of the article, you’ll notice Dunham defends himself by saying he insults all races equally, because that’s charming. See, he’s tired of political correctness and really, aren’t we all? Aren’t you sick of knowing the names of Indian people, rather than simply calling them “Hey Cabbie?” Don’t you hate that you have to wait for a black person to commit a crime before calling the cops?
Of course, maybe that’s not Dunham’s outlook, except that it, you know, is. He goes on to point out the one group he doesn’t make fun of is conservative white “country” people. It’s everyone equally he’s racist towards, except white people. In the interests of political correctness. He doesn’t pick on basic Christian values because that’s the way he was brought up.
And it’s here where the article’s author almost detaches with enough journalistic integrity to hit the nail on the head, but instead lets Dunham ride his pony into the dirt. He’s not hypocritical for having a dead terrorist puppet, it’s just what his audience laughs at. And it’s how he was raised. Oh, and Mexicans should learn English. Screw you, political correctness!
Dunham is an unfunny racist with ugly, creepy-ass puppets. He admits he’s a racist and he was raised to apparently only respect himself and people like him. And he’s the third highest grossing comedian in American. Fuck.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 11:22AM
Holy shit. The third highest grossing? Is that one of your totally made up facts, because he sucks serious fucking ass.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 5:49PM
The NYT tells me he's right behind Seinfeld and Chris Rock in terms of cash he pulls in. Maybe they were joking too, I dunno.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 12:22PM
Wow, somebodies jealous of success! He does make fun of white country people – if you sit down and watch his show you would see / hear Bubba J.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 6:58PM
I certainly do not care whether he makes fun of white retarded country people. I have seen his show and he still sucks. It could be that I am suspect of any adult that plays with puppets, as that usually is an indicator of either two things. 1) He is a pedophile or; 2) He is a pedophile who also fucks his puppet.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 7:14PM
Someone needs to take a reality check! Every comedian that I have ever listened to or watched has made fun of people of different races, nationalities, economic levels, or gender. Please, even rap music and television shows cross the same lines. If we can't laugh together and poke fun at each other, then what type of society do we live in? I'm sure that you make fun of your own family members or even your friends. Why can't we do the same when it comes to comedy? Just because you laugh, doesn't mean you are a racist. I am white and my husband is black. We both love Jeff Dunham and think that he is a gifted ventriloquist.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 7:23PM
Shitty taste in comedy knows no racial boundaries. That's touching.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 7:57PM
Well I took the time to review your comments here. I speack for me and well, me only. As a proud black man I actually think some of his content is "very funny" No is he a racist I don't know and as for evidence; please me mindful of character. If he said he was raised to be that way, well how different is it from how sooo many others were raised. I respect his ability to view his upbringing and for the most part through his comedy he is getting educated, and I am sure some therapy (be it slight emotional, mental, social or fully comedic). I refuse to jump on any band wagan including this one. Other than being angry how else do you think you can educate him or others that may have a less than appropriate view of others?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 8:40PM
Also, I've seen better ventriloquism. You know, the kind where you can't obviously see him talking out the corner of his mouth.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 9:16PM
Wow!!! You people are taking all this way too seriously. I hear something funny, I laugh (especially with puppets!) Jeff Dunham rocks! Society needs to quit taking everything so personal, ESPECIALLY when it comes to comedy. All you negative people have way too much hatred in your hearts.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 9:45PM
You silly dipshit.
Making a racist issue out of something non-racial makes you…. a racist.
Jeff Dunham is funny as shit
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 9:54PM
Jeff Dunham is an unfunny whore.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 10:15PM
I do not particularly care about anything he actually says because he sucks mean puppet balls. And ventriloquism is about as funny as a kitten getting run over by a mack truck. Maybe some people find that funny. They are the same people that lather themselves in poop watching Japanese tentacle porn. Which I guess is a sizable number considering that he has a show. I don't know what is worse to think about? A kitten getting run over by a mack truck. Or imagining that there is a high probability that the stranger I just meet at the bar is going to go home and lather themselves in poop while watching Japanese tentacle porn.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 10:58PM
Chris Rock exposes racism in his comedy as his predecessor, Richard Pryor, did. Alan Alda exposes sexism and misogyny yet is a women's advocate. Bill Mahr both Religions and Atheists. Robin Williams, Woopie Goldberg, and Billy Crystal admonished themselves for the jokes they made on homeless and impoverished and cleaned up their acts.
George Carlin said Fuck alot and challenged our thinking and frequently argued both sides of an issue in front of huge audiences. And fuck Margaret Cho, Lenny Bruce and Bill Hicks – those folks started and ended with out any reverence for themselves or the values of society! But each one of these great comics challenged themselves, questioned their own ideology (safe areas), and made us think.
I watched Jeff Dunham. I did not gain any insight. I saw stereotypes unchallenged and a lack of depth. I guess I am a comedy snob, but Jeff is not for me. And I don't like the way his comedy makes me feel. If he went equally at the conservative and the Christian, I would be fine. But I feel that if he says no to these two areas how can he have the Dead Terrorist or the Peanut characters.
Carvey's the Church Lady or Pryor's Mudbone or Goldberg's Fontaine or Pryor's Motif all showed their prejudice and wore it on their sleeves as well as questioning ideologies they each held. So I guess I do call Jeff Dunham hypocritical. And in that way I agree with the sentiment of this article if not the word racist itself.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 11:17PM
okay seriously, I am a total fan of Jeff Dunham and I say this: he is NOT a Racist. where the hell did you get this impression from??? if you made this up you are a total Fuckhead. go find someone who is not as popular to make fun of and make retarded comments.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 5:57PM
I just checked out your twitter and I’m pretty sure you’re a future Jeff Dunham stalker/rapist.
You scare me.
Flee this place! FLEE!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 12:47AM
Brittany, renounce your love for Jeff Dunham or you will never see your DSi again. NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 12:58PM
I think the point most people are missing here (I'm looking at you "Paul", if that IS your real name..) is that while other comedians have some racist elements in thier routines, at least they're funny. Jeff Dunham is not, in the slightest bit, funny.
Also, he rapes kittens. Constantly.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 2:44PM
Where did I get this impression from? I dunno…the racist jokes he makes or the article in which he admits it? I can see where you'd have trouble following along.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 2:45PM
Nah, I think I'm right.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 2:45PM
I'm not sure if positivity and acceptance of racism are the same thing.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 2:50PM
Obviously a lot of people think he's funny. People thought Ray Romano was funny. People thought Jerry Lewis was funny. Not everyone agrees. Mostly I'm pointing out the obvious whether anyone chooses to acknowledge it or not – Dunham uses stark, obvious racial stereotypes and racist humor in his act. I don't make him do it, maybe the voices in his head do.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 2:53PM
See, this is why Dunham is popular. Oh, it's just a joke. Do you know how long it took sexual harassment to be acknowledged as a real thing? It happened barely by the end of the 1980's and to this day is often overlooked. You know why? It's just joking around, don't be so serious. So what if a guy at the office says he wants to donkey punch you, he's just being silly, can't you take a joke? What are you a prude? Uptight? I just want to cum on your face, it's funny. Why are you offended? You're an idiot.
If you don't see the parallel, then you really are an idiot.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 2:54PM
Ahh, the favored argument of every entitled trailer park princess in highschool – you're just jealous. Can't argue with that, it's built on a solid foundation.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 8:27PM
Conformunist,
I will concede that point. However, I fear that is just the tip of the iceberg. I think I was fair in my response that I did not find him funny, but if that was it, I would have not wasted bandwidth.
Thanks for the reply,
"Yes I am" Paul
Thursday, November 5, 2009 9:31AM
this is so not funny little kids watch this show and it makes them want to talk racist and be mean to other kids
Thursday, November 5, 2009 6:56PM
I think that your justified for what you're saying. I wouldn't say you're so much a snob as someone who analyzes what they're watching and decides for himself: is this substantial? Worthwhile? Ethical? Funny?
Carlin was truly a great and others like him challenged their audiences by confronting them with a controversial issue and wringing the truth out of the bullshit. All Dunham is attempting to do is distance himself from his racism by using puppetry. I honestly gave him a chance once; my parents were watching the Achmed act and I watched a little. Needless to say I was disgusted.
Friday, November 6, 2009 2:27AM
I don't think he is a racist, I also don think he is funny. Sure he has talent, making yourself sound like various minorities without moving your mouth is impressive. But he is no more funny than a Mime or a clown. He is entertainment, but not comedy
Friday, November 6, 2009 3:12PM
I second that very good point Riaan!
Saturday, November 7, 2009 2:25AM
What is wrong with you?! XD you are pretty sick. i mean japanese tentacle porn? What the heck? And there is nothing funny about a kitty getting run over by a mack truck -_- seriously dude? Where do you get that stuff?
Saturday, November 7, 2009 11:38PM
Right, because a dead Arab suicide bomber, a cross-eyed trailer park reject, and a Mexican pepper with bad sentence structure are "non-racial".
Sorry, it's pretty obviously race humor.
Whatever, guys. So you like racist jokes, and are trying to defend yourselves in (of all places) a comedy website. it's cool. We all have our bad ideas.
Though yours are pretty bad right now.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 5:18AM
Who is Ian Fortay and why does anyone care about what he considers racist or not?
Mr. Fortay, you are an idiot. Dunham is funny. Funnier than Bill Maher, Rosie O'Donnell, or your mother after a few beers.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 5:46AM
Who is Chris T. and why does anyone care about what he thinks about Ian Fortay. Also, who the fuck is Ian Fortay? I'm assuming it's Ian Fortey's smoother, more ethnic cousin.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 4:30PM
Being called an idiot by a Jeff Dunham fan is like being called rich by a homeless refugee.
That aside, Bill Maher and Rosie O' Donnell were the other comedians you could come up with? The institution you're in has a very limited number of channels available, doesn't it?
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 11:46PM
The fact that the person who posted this blog is so offended, tickles me to death….
Thursday, December 31, 2009 6:19AM
It's true, I am very offended. I got the girls in my sewing circle to protest his show and that's why he got canceled. Take that, bitches.
Thursday, February 25, 2010 7:57PM
Yeah, name 3 of them then? And then tell Me how much they make a year in comparison to Jeff Dunham?
Thursday, February 25, 2010 8:05PM
Did you ever think he was or is mocking racism because it's a stupid, and incompetent way of thinking about other people, no matter the color of their skin or racial heritage? I don't really care if he is a racist, he's funny, his comedy is just that, it's comedy. It's meant to be a way to mock societies thinking, and in such a way as to expose its utter stupidity. If you get offended by what he says, who's actually being the racist?
Thursday, February 25, 2010 11:26PM
Probably Jeff Dunham. Since he's racist. And not remotely funny.
Here's a fun thought experiment. Is it funny when you get kicked in the balls? If not, why do other people laugh?
Saturday, March 6, 2010 4:57AM
The only one's who are laughing are those who can't feel the pain. You're equating physical violence to racial mocking humor. I know you CAN'T be a black man or any race that would find what he says, offensive or at least are supposed to find it offensive, according to you. I think you are just someone who can't appreciate comedy for what it is, comedy. I have Mexican ancestry, and yet, I don't find his Jalapeño on a Stick as offensive, it's, wait for it…FUNNY! If you can't find the humor in his comedy, you need to stop watching him because it offers you absolutely nothing, but you shouldn't discourage others the opportunity, just because you can't see his comedy for what it is.
Saturday, March 6, 2010 4:24PM
Now I know you're a troll. because that jalapeno is one of the goddamn unfunniest things I've ever seen.
I dunno, I just think maybe some of the other people who have taken offense to a corpse in a turban billed as a terrorist might find him racist, too. Probably not just me.
But I can't stress this enough, as a white male aged 18-35, the things that offends me the most on behalf of all races is his total inability to be funny in even the slightest way.
Monday, March 8, 2010 1:33PM
It seems you're obsessed with condemnation and a Hitler type desire to have EVERYONE seeing things your way. You are not a very good columnist in the fact that you are way too over opinionated, you're not a comedian because if you are one, you're not very funny. Comedy is what makes a person laugh. If you don't get comedy, then you're missing a good portion of your frontal lobe, and I sincerely hope for all generations, you NEVER become a political figure. As for calling Me a troll, I should make an effort to locate your residence, and do you bodily harm, but to do that would justify your existence, and I don't think it would set well with My conscience if I did that. And as for people taking offense to his humor. The only ones that would, are the ones that believe he's really talking to a DEAD TERRORIST, which you seem to think he is. It's a shame that you can't appreciate Jeff Dunham. I don't think you've ever really paid a good amount of attention to his comedy because if you had, you would sere that he makes fun of EVERYONE, including himself. He is the literal, "butt," of many of his jokes. In conclusion, comedy is truly in the eye or ear of the beholder, and since you have neither an eye or ear for comedy, then I would suggest you do yourself a BIG favor and STOP watching comedians, because you bring no joy to our lives or theirs by ridiculing them.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 6:20AM
OH SNAP, call it, this guy just invoked Hitler. And it only took like, what, 5 posts or so?
Sorry buddy, you just lost the argument right there.
Also, you're goddamn retarded if you think Dunny-whunny is anything remotely approaching humorous.
He's not that good of a ventriloquist, and his jokes crossed the border of racism some fifty kilometres back and kept on going.
And hey, only asshats and morons start arguments like this over the Internets because any intelligent person would have realized that their opinion really doesn't matter a flying fuck here.
Your complimentary bouquet of dicks will be arriving shortly, pending nothing happening to them in the mail.
Thursday, March 11, 2010 1:53PM
I guess Jeff makes fun of everybody…black,white,arab etc… People should not take this too far. Just get the portion that is funny to you, laugh over it and move on. You might find a session with Achmed (the dead terrorist) very interesting as a black or white person, but an arab wouldn't like it and vice versa.Let's learn to be tolerant. saintclair101@yahoo.com
Thursday, March 11, 2010 2:51PM
I don't think Jeff is particurarly funny. He'll get one or two smiles out of me, but that's about it. I do not, however, think he's a racist. He makes fun of everybody, even white, country people. People have nothing better to do than make things appear racist. Grow up and concentrate on something important. If you don't like him, don't watch…
Monday, April 5, 2010 2:21AM
If you find a puppet of a terrorist racist then I guess you support racism and the al quieda jeff takes the piss out of suicide bombers which I think just about sums them up dumbasses who think they get 12 virgins if they blow themselfs up hope you get blown up by one you terrorist lover god these people are retards can’t take a joke and support the enemy hope you gwt blown up and end up crippled by a terrorist explosion god you gotta love what they did qwith the twin towers eh (that was sarcsm for any retards out there who think I’m serious)
Friday, April 9, 2010 11:12PM
That's not the point. The point is he's a lousy ventriloquest. Notice how everytime the puppet talks you see his mouth move? yeah, that's not how you're supposed to do it. Idiot.
Monday, May 24, 2010 12:50AM
WHATEVER!! Which one are you moron
Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:30PM
I completely agree with you, except for all that "this isn't funny that isn't funny" talk. who are you to tell us what we find funny and what we don't? humor is like beauty, the eye of the beholder and all that noise.
Friday, July 30, 2010 7:13AM
Racist? Well, that's just poppycock! He has a redneck puppet that he pulls out on occassion, which means he makes everyone equally. That's why it's okay for him to mock the dirty towelheads and their heathen monkey god. It's not Jeff's fault white people are more equal than the colored folk!
By the way, I'm a slack-jawed retard who laughs at stupid shit and really is dumb enough to think someone isn't racist because they say they aren't (which only applies if I like them). Also, I have a black friend, so I'm not racist, either. He's one of the good ones!
-Tabris