Amy Schumer Gave a Not Totally Reassuring Response to Criticism of Her Race Jokes

Amy Schumer responded to criticisms that she has racists jokes on Twitter.

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Complex Original

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Amy Schumer was recently criticized for her jokes about race in an essay published by the Guardian, titled "Amy Schumer: comedy's viral queen." "For such a keen observer of social norms," the author wrote, "Schumer has a shockingly large blind spot around race."

This is not the first time Schumer has been criticized for the use of race in her comedy—earlier this month, the Daily Dot published a piece called "Amy Schumer isn't as feminist as the internet thinks." In her jokes, she's speared Hispanic men ("I used to date Hispanic guys, but now I prefer consensual.") and women ("How good was Gone Girl? If you didn't see it, it's the story of what one crazy white woman, or all Latinas do.") In response to the Daily Dot essay, Schumer tweeted "hahahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahshahaahhsshahahhahahaahah."

@dailydot hahahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahshahaahhsshahahhahahaahah

Schumer used a few more words today to respond to the criticism of her jokes published in the Guardian. "I am a comic," she wrote on Twitter. "I will joke about things you like and I will joke about things you aren't comfortable with. And that's ok." 

Put down your torches before reading this so you don't catch on fire. pic.twitter.com/JyRQGvFuX8

All true and good, but the rest of Schumer's argument is not super convincing. "Stick with me and trust I am joking. That includes making dumb jokes involving race," she wrote. As a huge Amy fan, I'm with her so much of the way, but it doesn't feel like she's earned her audience's trust on this one—not the way that she has proven herself more than capable to tackle sexism and relationships in her comedy.

"Trust me. I'm not a racist," she added in her note. "I am a devout feminist and lover of all people." Now's your chance to show us, Amy.

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