Jeff Dye says politics ‘interfering’ with stand-up comedy business

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After announcing his plans to depart California for Texas final month, comic Jeff Dye made it clear that this was not a choice he got here to in a single day. For years, he clung to the assumption that the state he liked might nonetheless be saved, however ultimately that hope ran out.

Dye sat down with Fox News Digital , the place he provided perception into his resolution to depart Los Angeles for Austin and the way politics have carved a rising divide inside the stand-up comedy group.

A fixture of the stand-up scene since 2005, Dye is getting ready to hitch the wave of entertainers and on a regular basis Individuals who've fled the Golden State in recent times. Whereas he agreed that "there's nothing heroic about leaving" California, the comic expressed a way of hopelessness in regards to the state's future below Gov. Gavin Newsom 's management — particularly given his dealing with of the wildfires that tore via the Palisades earlier this 12 months.

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Comic Jeff Dye sat down with Fox Information Digital and mentioned his latest resolution to depart California for Texas. (Photograph Courtesy of SA Ent. Group)

"I do not assume it is good to depart California since you're upset with the way in which it is run. We must always keep and combat for it," he asserted. "However at a sure level, you simply get a bit of defeated in like, I do not know methods to combat for it anymore. I do not know what to do."

On the problems of homelessness and transportation, Dye questioned the place taxpayer funds allotted to sort out these issues have gone, aiming his questions at Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Newsom's workplace had a dismissive reply when reached for remark by Fox Information Digital, saying of Dye, "Who's that?" Fox Information Digital additionally reached out to the workplace of Mayor Bass for remark.

In April of final 12 months, a state audit discovered California had spent $24 billion on tackling homelessness over 5 years with out persistently monitoring how the funds truly aided within the homeless disaster.

"What number of issues does Mayor Bass and Gavin Newsom, , what number of issues can they only deceive our face or ignore or not do earlier than you go, I am out of right here?" he requested.

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With politics creeping its method into seemingly each aspect of life, the stand-up comedy scene has been no exception.

Jeff Dye defined the affect that he felt politics are having on the stand-up comedy world. (Courtesy of SA Ent. Group)

Fox Information Digital requested Dye whether or not he felt that the rising affect of politics in stand-up comedy has had a unfavorable affect on the business.

"The most important factor I've seen in stand-up comedy — and folks will accuse me of being a drama queen or being a punk for even saying this — however the largest factor I've seen is that the politics is interfering with the comedy," he mentioned.

"It was once my heroes, no less than, had been like, 'Dude, do not be politically appropriate and say what you assume and do not be afraid to interrupt any fake pas.' The place it is now, even probably the most profitable comedians are being like, 'Hey, you may't joke about that,' or, 'You possibly can't say that,' which breaks my mind."

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In response to Dye, as we speak's stand-up stars are likely to observe an unstated rule: "Say no matter you need, however you higher be liberal."

One comedy legend whose phrases have stayed with Dye through the years is George Carlin, whose anti-establishment, provocative type helped outline aware comedy.

"George Carlin as soon as mentioned our job as comedians is to search out that line after which intentionally cross it… I am not operating for workplace. I am not doing TED talks. I am not lecturing folks on ethics and morals. I am simply presupposed to be humorous and level out issues in society," he defined.

Comic George Carlin performs on the Cheyenne Civic Heart n Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 1, 1992. (Mark Junge/Getty Pictures)

Dye contended that just a few "courageous comics" have shifted the Overton Window in regard to what's or is not acceptable to talk about as a stand-up.

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He credited comedians/hosts like Joe Rogan , Theo Von and Shane Gillis for this shift, praising their willingness to talk their minds with little regard for what others might imagine.

"Now you see loads of comics coming alongside going, 'Oh, it is a bit of safer now, as a result of these massive comics have mentioned a factor.' I used to be on the entrance traces of that in a method," he mentioned. "I've all the time been extra conservative than my comedic counterparts. I've all the time been far more spiritual so far as like, I am a Christian, in order that's not an enormous, common factor in stand-up comedy. I used to be on the entrance traces in that method."

Comic Jeff Dye performs on "The Tonight Present with Jimmy Fallon" on Jan. 19, 2018. (Andrew Lipovsky/NBCU Photograph Financial institution/NBCUniversal)

Explaining his gradual shift in political ideology, Dye advised Fox Information Digital, "I used to be late to the Trump get together. I used to be late to loads of these issues. I assumed, as a result of I had homosexual associates, that I should be liberal, after which turning into liberal turned crazier and crazier and extra Antifa-ish, and I used to be like, 'I am out.'"

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Dye acknowledged that some might scoff on the thought of comedians being courageous for expressing their views, however he pushed again on that perspective — noting the dangers that include difficult the dominant political consensus.

"It's courageous to say one thing that everybody else is not saying. There may be some bravery in that. To say a factor that your friends and the folks you're employed with are going to hate. And if you happen to do not assume that is courageous, have a look at what occurred to Charlie Kirk," he argued. "It's courageous as a result of there are dangers if you say issues that individuals do not like."