Boyzone singer Keith Duffy blasts modern censorship as he fumes comedies are 'way too woke': 'Don't like, don't watch!'
Keith Duffy has declared that comedy has become “way too woke” as the Boyzone star defended comedians such as Jimmy Carr and Ricky Gervais in the ongoing free speech debate.The singer and actor, 50, argued that audiences who dislike controversial comedians should simply “not watch them” rather than attempt to censor their material.Speaking exclusively to GB News, Mr Duffy said: “I think it’s become way too woke."I think comedy is exactly that. It’s fun, it’s lighting the mood, it’s giving people the opportunity to laugh out loud.”Keith Duffy rose to fame as part of Boyzone in 1994 | GETTYThe comments came after the official Boyzone Instagram account recently shared a post featuring Mr Carr, describing him as one of the group’s “heroes”.Asked whether British comedy had become too politically correct, Mr Duffy insisted freedom of speech in comedy should remain protected.He said: “If you don’t like his style of comedy, well then don’t watch him."If you don’t like Ricky Gervais, don’t watch him. You find what you like and watch that.The singer told GB News that comedy has become too 'woke' | GETTY“But I certainly think that freedom of speech and comedy should not be touched.”The former Boyzone star stressed he supported people expressing themselves however they wished, but believed comedy should still be allowed to push boundaries.“I’m all up for woke. I’m all up for whatever people want to be themselves."I wouldn’t judge anybody,” he explained.“Everybody’s entitled to present themselves however they like, and I would never insult them."But I have to say, in comedy, it should be left there. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.”Mr Duffy added: “They’re not going out to insult people. They’re making light of a situation and helping people laugh. Laughing is the best medicine in the world.”Elsewhere in the interview, the singer reflected on how dramatically the entertainment industry has changed since Working My Way Back to You launched Boyzone into stardom more than three decades ago.Mr Duffy said streaming platforms and social media had transformed the music business, arguing modern artists face far greater pressures than previous generations.He said, on behalf of Zingo Bingo: “Back in the day, you had Top of the Pops, MTV, and all these different music stations that could promote your songs."Nowadays, social media is a double-edged sword.”While acknowledging platforms such as TikTok and Instagram help emerging artists gain exposure, Mr Duffy warned they could also be damaging for young people.Boyzone | GETTY“It’s dangerous for the younger generation today because it’s not real, it’s false, it’s fake,” he said. “You don’t know what you’re looking at, whether it’s AI or whether it’s real.”The singer also spoke about concerns surrounding reality talent shows and the treatment of young performers, ahead of a forthcoming documentary about The X Factor.Mr Duffy suggested some contestants had been mocked during audition stages for entertainment purposes and questioned whether enough support existed for stars coping with sudden fame.Referencing the death of Liam Payne, who rose to fame on the X Factor as part of One Direction, he said: “Was there anybody there for him to help him understand and navigate being famous?“Being followed everywhere and people having an unhealthy interest in everything you do in your life? I don’t know what the answer is, but maybe that question needs to be asked.”
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