Radio host Charlamagne (L) defended stand-up comedians Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears after a woman filed a lawsuit against them last week.
The woman, identified in the complaint as Jane Doe, 22, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County last Tuesday individually and on behalf of her minor brother John Doe, now 15.
The suit accuses Haddish, 42, and Spears, 47, of “intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence, sexual battery, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse of a minor”
On Tuesday’s edition of Breakfast Club on Power 105.1 FM, co-host Charlamagne defended the pair, saying their “old content” was “the norm” in another era.
“At some point, we have to collectively have a conversation about old content,” he said. “Because you have older people who don’t remember that, sadly, jokes like this – content like this – was pretty much the norm.”
He continued:
“And then you have younger people who can’t believe content like this ever existed. But it did, and at some point we have to have a convo [sic] about it. Because if you was creating content in a certain era – which wasn’t too long ago – oh my God, this could happen to you.”
Charlamagne didn’t provide any examples of comedy sketches in the modern era, or any era, that compares to Haddish and Spears sexually abusing a 7-year-old male child.
Commenters were confused and offended by Charlamgne’s comments.
One commenter wrote:
“Charlamagne’s response to Tiff and Aries’ situation is insane. There’s a difference between dark humor and physically rubbing oil on a lil boy’s body, spreading his legs, etc and traumatizing him for life. On top of that, she LIED about the use of the sketches. Tellin’ that boy mom it’s for Nickelodeon. Smh. CTG needa go touch some grass.”
Another person wrote:
“I’m confused.. when has child pornography and pedophilia been humorous? This has never been something that production companies backed, nor should they. Charlemagne is all over the place.”
While a third person wrote:
“The Aries spears part of the story was definitely played down here. If y’all saw the sketch, you know what I’m talking about. But the biggest, most disturbing part was the sketch the little boy was in that was just overly sexual and supposedly the boy was crying and begging to leave and they cut the filming there so he could go home because he made such a big fuss. IM JUST SAYING, the story with Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears is downplayed significantly.”
