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Comic Nate Jackson explains what cancel culture really is

Stand-up comedian Nate Jackson provided his perspective on what cancel culture really is, noting the difference between criticism and trying to end someone's career.

Stand-up comedy star Nate Jackson says the cancel culture phenomenon — which many entertainers believe has held humor hostage in recent years — is finally winding down.

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the comic and actor said that with so many entertainment options available, audiences are simply finding people they like to watch rather than banding together to end the careers of performers whose jokes they don’t enjoy.

"No, I think that's kind of a wrap," Jackson said when asked if he believes cancel culture is still a threat. "Yeah, I think people realize that there is someone for everyone, and if someone's not for you, then just don't watch them."

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Stand-up comic Nate Jackson heralds the end of cancel culture in a new interview with Fox News Digital.  (Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images)

Jackson’s latest special, "Super Funny," reached the third spot in Netflix’s top ten list when it premiered in July. The veteran comic’s set features a mix of high-energy crowdwork – where he improvises jokes based on audience interaction – and his more traditional stand-up material. The comic is also currently on his "Super Funny World Tour."

Having been a rising fixture in the comedy sphere over the last few years – he even opened up his own comedy club in Washington state during the height of COVID – Jackson told Fox News Digital he sees clear signs that cancel culture is dying off.

He noted that even the most controversial comedian or voice has an audience these days. 

"The craziest person who has an opinion, [their] podcast got a following," he said.

Again, he said that viewers who don’t find someone funny have plenty of options for entertainment these days and shouldn’t get hung up on their gripes with a particular artist. 

"So, if you don't like it, just swipe away from it."

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Nate Jackson performing stand-up in Pasadena, California, earlier this year. (Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images for ABA)

Cancel culture peaked shortly after 2020, with woke online mobs targeting public figures who made controversial or unpopular statements, encouraging others to boycott their work or call for an end to their careers. Comedians have felt the pressure of these efforts to curb their speech, with stars like Dave Chappelle and Jerry Seinfeld alleging that the phenomenon has restricted their ability to tell certain jokes.

In his 2019 special, "Sticks & Stones," Chappelle referred to cancel culture as "celebrity hunting season," and declared, "This is the worst time ever to be a celebrity. You’re gonna be finished. Everyone’s doomed. Michael Jackson has been dead for 10 years, and this n---- has two new cases!"

Seinfeld said in April 2024 that there’s not as much mainstream comedy anymore because the "extreme left" has deemed a lot of humor too offensive.

During a segment on The New Yorker’s Radio Hour, he said, "It used to be, you would go home at the end of the day, most people would go, ‘Oh, ‘Cheers’ is on. Oh, ‘MASH’ is on. Oh, ‘Mary Tyler Moore’ is on. ‘All in the Family’ is on.’ "You just expected, ‘There’ll be some funny stuff we can watch on TV tonight.’ Well, guess what — where is it?"

He concluded, "This is the result of the extreme left and PC crap and people worrying so much about offending other people." 

The comic would walk back his comments during a podcast later that year, saying, "I said that the ‘extreme left’ has suppressed the art of comedy. I did say that. That’s not true."

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