Comedian Rosie Jones has a message for those who dismiss her comedy as 'too woke': 'Thank you very much, that's a lovely compliment.' The 35-year-old LGBTQ+ performer has faced significant online backlash since earlier this year when she called on 'privileged, cis, white, straight men, such as Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr, to with respect, shut the f**k up.'
Jones Defends Her Comments
The controversy began after Carr praised transphobic Father Ted creator Graham Linehan during his Laughs Funny tour, and Gervais defended 'taboo' comedy following his Netflix special SuperNature. Speaking at the Scope awards, where she won celebrity role model of the year, Jones explained: 'When you look into it, woke means that you are awake to the world. You are awake to other people's feelings and other people's diversity.'
Jones elaborated on her approach to comedy, outlining a three-question framework for joke-telling. 'One: Who are you? Are you in a position where you can authentically tell that joke. Two: Who is the joke directed at? Are you punching down? Are you telling a joke about a group that you are not a part of, and you have no experience of? If so, don't say it. It's not your business.' She added: 'And three: Why are you telling that joke? If you are making that joke just to be controversial, just to be provocative, just to get a cheap laugh, it's not your place. But, if you are telling that joke to make people laugh, and to make people change their perceptions on a certain topic – great, go ahead.'
Comedy as a Tool for Change
Jones believes her comedy, such as the award-winning sitcom Pushers, can shift perceptions. 'People think when you have a little laugh, it's meaningless, but it always has meaning. Comedy has the ability to disarm people, but also when you're relaxed, you've been put in a place where you can receive messages. That's when you can change people's minds for the better and target misconceptions.'
She addressed common misconceptions about disabled people: 'Disabled people are often seen as vulnerable, victims and even asexual. We're seen as people who can't have jobs and can't have fully rounded, fulfilled, brilliant lives. That's not the case at all. Someone who comes to my gig, or watches my show, might start by thinking 'oh, poor her. I bet her life is a bit crap.' Through my comedy, I show my personality and who I am, and people can leave knowing that disabled people are just like everyone else.'
The Rosie Jones Foundation
Beyond comedy, Jones launched the Rosie Jones Foundation in April last year, which has already changed the lives of thousands of people living with cerebral palsy. The charity ensures access to appropriate, lived experience-led mental health support. 'It's so important. I know that first-hand. I've seen a lot of councillors and therapists who are non-disabled, and when you don't have that common ground, people get confused. Lived experience provides that understanding, and sparks real, tangible change. Not only in counselling but in every sector and every job, lived experience of cerebral palsy is so important. Because if we don't amplify disabled voices, how can we make this world a better place for everybody?'
