Comedian Amy Annette has declared that "comedians being hot is a crime against nature," arguing that the pressure to conform to beauty standards is undermining the art of comedy. In a new opinion piece, Annette contends that being funny is an evolutionary trait developed by the unattractive to attract mates, and therefore attractive people should not also be funny.
The Evolutionary Argument Against Hot Comedians
Annette asserts that hotness is distinct from beauty. "Beauty is ineffable. It can be found anywhere and in anyone. Hotness is different. It's playing the game of society's beauty norms and winning," she writes. She admits she is "not ugly, but I'll never be hot," citing the effort and commitment required to meet such standards.
She uses a personal anecdote to illustrate her point: "The other day I went to a wedding and thought to myself: 'I really like this couple, maybe I'll shave above the knee.' A hot person would have probably already been professionally hairless, and, if not would have booked in a wax ASAP."
The Rise of Celebrity-Level Hot Comedians
Annette observes that many US comedians today are "celebrity-level hot," not just by comedy's traditionally low bar. She attributes this to the online scrutiny women face: "If you are a woman with any visibility, there will inevitably be a response online to your looks. If you are in any way not meeting normative beauty standards, it will be pointed out to you. A lot."
She suggests that attaining hotness may make female comedians feel more "bulletproof," allowing them to be judged on their jokes rather than their looks. She cites Nikki Glaser, who hosted the Golden Globes "as polished as any A-list actor," as an example of this phenomenon.
The Changing Standards for Men
Annette contrasts today's comedians with those she grew up admiring, including Wanda Sykes, Rosie O'Donnell, Dawn French, and Jo Brand. While she calls them "attractive people," she notes they "weren't trying to be hot" and didn't feel the need to meet beauty norms.
She also points out that the pressure now extends to men. Comedian Matt Rife recently refuted claims of plastic surgery, insisting he "just can't help being gorgeous" and that being a comedian "actually made shit harder." Annette responds, "I agree, if by 'shit harder' he means 'much, much easier.'"
The Future of Comedy
Annette worries that the industry is moving toward a point where all comedians need to be hot. "No good can come of this new standard," she writes. "I'm not saying all comedians need to be ugly, but I am worried we're getting to a point where all comedians need to be hot. Please. No. Think of us, the happily hairy thighed, and let us be as non-hot as we like."
The piece concludes with Annette's plea for comedians to be exempt from society's beauty rules, allowing them to focus on their craft rather than their appearance.
