Wanda Sykes isn't shying away from being branded as a "woke comic." Quite the opposite; she embraces the label wholeheartedly.
The Emmy award-winning 59-year-old is no stranger to the spotlight, with a flourishing career that spans decades. She made her mark in the world of comedy writing for The Chris Rock Show, and her talents have graced popular TV series such as Black-ish, The Upshaws, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. You may also recognize her distinctive voice from the Ice Age film series or remember her performances in movies like Monster-In-Law.
Above all, Sykes is renowned for being a trailblazing comedian in the LGBTQIA+ community, even though her humor sometimes ruffles feathers.
In a recent discussion with Variety about her Netflix special I'm An Entertainer, Sykes openly addressed various aspects of her career, from her comedic material to the playful portrayal of her French wife, Alex, as a smoker on stage.
"When I first started doing her on stage, I would say at the end, 'Oh, by the way, my wife doesn't even smoke. This is just how I see her,'" she quipped.
The conversation also touched on the increasing presence of feminist, racial, and LGBTQIA+ topics in contemporary comedy, an area where Sykes shines. She openly admitted to incorporating jokes about the controversial laws banning transgender women from women's bathrooms into her acts. "I knew that it's such a delicate issue to talk about. I'm not trans, but they have my support, 100 percent," she stated.
The spirited comedian, who co-hosted the unforgettable 2022 Oscars, also voiced her opinion on the criticism directed towards "woke comedy." Unfazed, she said: "It's pretty funny. If you want to give me the label of a 'woke comic,' that's fine. That's great.
"What makes me laugh is that they say that like it's an insult: 'Oh, they're woke.' Thank you!"
Sykes eloquently pointed out the legacy of "woke" comics, citing George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Bill Hicks as examples. In her eyes, being "woke" simply means evolving and growing. "It's almost like they're angry that we're evolving. It's sad, really," she concluded.
For anyone who wishes to witness this so-called "woke comedy" in action, Sykes' brand-new Netflix comedy special I'm An Entertainer is currently streaming on Netflix.