Hasan Minhaj Jokes He Must Be ‘Factually Accurate’ in First Special Since Fact-Checking Scandal: ‘It’s Not Even a Good One, I Didn’t F— a Porn Star’

As a seasoned cinephile who’s witnessed the rise and fall of many comedic talents, I must say that Hasan Minhaj‘s journey has been quite intriguing. His new Netflix special, “Off With His Head,” showcases his unique ability to turn adversity into humor, a trait that true comic geniuses possess.


In his latest Netflix performance, Hasan Minhaj addressed the controversy over fact-checking in humor that ultimately cost him his position as the new host of “The Daily Show.

Moments after cracking a joke about a “white BMW 3 Series,” Minhaj clarifies, “I don’t actually own a white BMW 3 Series; instead, I lease a 2023 Kia Carnival.” He then humorously adds that he feels compelled to make this correction due to the reaction it received.

Minhaj stated in his recent special, “Off With His Head,” which was released on Netflix on Tuesday, that he needs to be truthful because he learned the hard way when The New Yorker fact-checked his comedy routine last year. They found that some of his jokes were not as magical as he claimed, humorously pointing out, “Magicians aren’t wizards.” As a result, Minhaj now has a ‘controversies’ section on his Wikipedia page.

Minhaj elaborated, “It’s not really a big deal [argument]. I didn’t sleep with a porn actress or molest a child. Instead, I was found to have exaggerated for dramatic purposes. The same thing your aunt was caught doing when she embellished stories during Thanksgiving.

In September 2023, The New Yorker revealed that comedian Hasan Minhaj had made up certain tales in his stand-up acts, focusing particularly on those detailing hate crimes and instances of political violence. In “The King’s Jester,” Minhaj narrates an incident where he received a letter containing white powder, which he unintentionally spilled on his baby daughter. Alarmed that it might have been anthrax, he quickly took her to the hospital, only for the doctors to inform him that the substance was completely harmless.

Minhaj shared with The New Yorker that his daughter had no interaction with the powder and never required hospitalization. A letter containing white powder was sent to his home, though, which served as the basis for the humorous anecdote.

In August 2023, EbMaster announced that Minhaj was a leading candidate to become the permanent host of “The Daily Show,” with Trevor Noah leaving his position. However, after an interview with The New Yorker published a month later, it was revealed that Comedy Central had decided to broaden their search for a new host beyond just Minhaj.

To EbMaster, I confessed that all my stand-up tales were inspired by personal experiences I’ve had. I employ the tricks of stand-up comedy, such as exaggeration, switching names and settings, and condensing timelines to spin captivating yarns. That’s just part of the deal with this art form. You wouldn’t visit a haunted house and then complain about being lied to—the thrill is in the ride! Stand-up comedy works on the same principle.

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2024-10-23 03:46