With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Hannah Gadsby Quits Comedy But Stays Super Funny
(Credit: Ben King/Netflix)
By Darby Maloney with Caitlin Plummer
Gay Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby should really quit comedy -- at least, that's what she said when she took the stage at Largo, reiterating what she said in her new Netflix special Nanette.
Gadsby grew up on the island of Tasmania, swimming in self-loathing as the state went through years of heated debate around legalizing homosexuality, which had long been a crime.
When she started doing comedy, jokes about coming out and experiencing homophobia were the centerpiece of her routine. But in Nanette, she acknowledges that making jokes isn't the healthiest way to deal with the physical and sexual trauma she endured as well as her internalized homophobia.
"My whole story was always told around a joke diffusing but also laughing at homophobia, not acknowledging that it existed within me," Gadsby told KPCC's The Frame.
"You know, I often say that perhaps there should be a black stripe on the gay pride flag to acknowledge publicly the trauma that so many of us live through. You don't come out and instantly undo shame. You need the entire community that helped place that inside of you to also help undo that," Gadsby said.
So in the middle of her Netflix special, she says she's quitting: "I built a career out of self-deprecating humor and I'm not going to do that anymore -- not to myself or anyone who identifies with me."
She was inspired by her personal issues, career frustrations and Donald Trump.
"A lot of complex ideas sort of met at the point of writing this show," Gadsby told The Frame. "I was in a very angry space because I was frustrated, not just because of the gay marriage debate, but then Donald Trump was elected, and unfortunately he's not just your president. I was struck by the very destructive way that our leaders tend to speak. I was making a documentary [for the Australian Broadcasting Company called Nakedy Nudes] at that time as well, about the nude in art -- I studied art history -- and I kept talking to these so-called 'good guys,' the left-wing-leaning men who work in the arts, who were just casually dismissing the brutality of a lot of their so-called 'geniuses.' And I was bit frustrated where my career was. I felt like I had plateaued. I saw the rise of perfectly fine young men, my peers, just getting all the opportunities. And I'm like, 'I don't mean to sound arrogant (in my own head), but I think I'm better than these fellas.'"
Gadsby felt that her standup wasn't valued because her story wasn't valued.
"It didn't matter how good I was at comedy, how good a joke I could work or how well I could control a room," Gadsby said.
Her answer to that problem: Announce that she's quitting then prove her skills with an amazing show.
"I make the claim I'm going to quit and I did that to subvert. You know, every time a woman does something like [sharing a very personal story] on stage, we're told we're not comedians. We do monologues or one-woman shows. And no man has shown his vulnerability on stage -- no comedian -- and been reduced to, 'Oh, he's just doing a bit of theater now.'"
In Nanette, Gadsby deconstructs what goes into a joke versus a story. It's her story that she wants to tell now.
"Stories can be told constructively in a way that appeals to the humanity of an individual. In order to really appeal to the humanity of those you don't share experience with, you need to tell it through a story. The only way that you stop people fearing your difference is to make yourself look just as human as they are."
You made it! Congrats, you read the entire story, you gorgeous human. This story was made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism costs $$$$$. And now that LAist is part of KPCC, we rely on that support. So if you aren't already, be one of us! Help us help you live your best life in Southern California. Donate now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
-
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.