In the world of comedy, the line between edgy humour and insensitivity can often blur, leaving audiences divided. This was the case when comedian Sam Taunton made a controversial joke about the tragic murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, drawing mixed reactions from viewers and on social media.
Brian Thompson, aged 50, was the victim of a fatal shooting on a Wednesday morning while on his way to the Hilton in New York for a UnitedHealthcare conference. The crime scene held a chilling detail: the bullets used in the killing bore the words ‘delay, deny, defend.’
The story took a bizarre turn when monopoly money was discovered in what is believed to have been the gunman’s backpack, found in Central Park.
It was against this grim backdrop that Taunton attempted to inject humour during a segment on The Project.
‘Well let’s hope there’s not a ‘get out of jail free’ card in that backpack, cause he might go free,’ Taunton quipped, attempting to draw a parallel between the monopoly money and the classic board game’s get-out-of-jail mechanic.
The joke was met with an awkward silence from the co-hosts, with only a smattering of laughter from the audience. Co-host Steve Price responded tersely with, ‘That’s nice,’ highlighting the discomfort felt on the set. Taunton’s fellow presenter, Sarah Harris, quickly moved the conversation along in an effort to recover from the uneasy moment.
The panel had been discussing the public’s reaction to the murder, with Price noting that there was an unusual focus on the killer’s appearance. The conversation also touched on the broader issues of healthcare and insurance in the United States, which may have been what Taunton was trying to comment on with his ill-received joke.
The suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was later arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s following a tip-off from an employee. New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch informed the media that Mangione was found with a handwritten document that shed light on his motivations and state of mind. He was also reportedly in possession of a ghost gun, which could have been manufactured using a 3D printer.
Have you ever experienced a moment where humour seemed to cross a line? How do you think comedians should balance humour with today’s sensitivities? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the intersection of comedy and tragedy—share your perspective in the comments below!
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The real trouble with the “joke” is just that it’s not particularly funny (although, arguably, it’s quite clever from a Monopoly fan’s viewpoint).
And, please, let us not feed into the mock-piety of the Americans by damning our own citizens for trying to have a laugh. That’s just un-Australian.