Wanda Sykes doesn’t care if people call her a “woke comic.” On the contrary, she loves the name with all her heart.
The 59-year-old, who has been in the spotlight for decades and won an Emmy, is no new to the limelight. She made a name for herself in the comedy world by writing for The Chris Rock Show. Her work has also been seen on famous TV shows like Black-ish, The Upshaws, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. You may also know her from movies like Monster-In-Law or the Ice Age movies, where she has a very distinctive voice.
Sykes is best known for being a comedian who broke new ground in the LGBTQIA+ community, even though her humor sometimes makes people uncomfortable.
In a recent interview with Variety about her Netflix special I’m An Entertainer, Sykes talked openly about many parts of her work, from her comedic material to the funny way she played her French wife Alex as a smoker on stage.
“When I first did her on stage, I would say at the end, ‘Oh, by the way, my wife doesn’t even smoke. This is how I see her,'” she made a joke.
We also talked about how female, racial, and LGBTQIA+ topics are becoming more common in modern comedy, which is an area where Sykes shines. She said that she made jokes about the controversial rules that keep transgender women from using women’s bathrooms. “I knew it was a touchy subject to talk about. “I’m not a trans person, but I fully support them,” she said.
The funny, outspoken comedian, who co-hosted the unforgettable Oscars in 2022, also talked about the criticism of “woke comedy.” She didn’t care and said, “That’s pretty funny.” “If you want to call me a “woke comic,” that’s fine with me. That’s” awesome.
“What makes me laugh is that they say, ‘Oh, they’re awake,’ like it’s an insult. Thank you!”
Sykes spoke eloquently about the tradition of “woke” comedians, giving examples like George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Bill Hicks. In her mind, to be “woke” just means to change and grow. “It almost seems like they don’t like how we’re changing. “It’s really sad,” she said in the end.
I’m An Entertainer, Sykes’ brand-new Netflix comedy special, is now available for anyone who wants to see this so-called “woke comedy” in action.