Cancelled Comedian Unsure How Many More Minority Groups He Must Offend to Get on Rogan
SÃO PAOLO — Brazilian comedian Leo Lins has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for standup deemed hateful and defamatory. Following in the footsteps of Louis C.K., Dave Chappelle, and others who turned controversy into clout, Lins now faces showbiz’s biggest question: How many more minority groups do I have to alienate before Joe Rogan finally invites me on his podcast?
Though Lins’ brand of comedy may be distasteful, Brazilian authorities' severe reaction signals a government intolerant of free expression. Still, Lins sees a silver lining. “All the greats go on Rogan after getting canceled. It’s like a rite of passage. I’ve insulted half of Latin America — how am I not there yet?”
Industry analysts note a clear pattern: get canceled, book Rogan, emerge reborn as a “free speech martyr” with a seven-figure Netflix holding deal.
Formerly cancelled comedian and now frequent Rogan guest Shane Gillis weighed in on Lins’ situation, "Hey man, you're doing great — you pissed off the government. That’s like the Mount Rushmore of comedy. Of course, Brazil doesn’t have a Mount Rushmore, so maybe that’s your problem.”
In a tearful live stream filmed between bites of elk steak and DMT microdosing, Lins lamented his dilemma: “All I have left are Lutherans and the Inuit — not much to work with really.”
JUST THE FACTS
- A São Paulo court sentenced comedian Leo Lins to 8 years and 3 months in prison on hate speech and defamation charges under Brazil’s Anti-Racism Law and Disability Statute, following a 2022 comedy set that was later posted on YouTube.
- During the 2022 performance, Lins joked about Black and Indigenous people, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and others. His act included statements perceived as inciting discrimination, including references to AIDS, incest, pedophilia, and racial stereotypes.
- Prosecutors cited Brazil’s anti-discrimination laws, noting enhanced penalties for hate speech disseminated through the media. The judge ruled Lins’s comments exceeded the limits of artistic freedom and constituted criminal hate speech.
- Lins’s defense and many public commentators criticized the ruling as a threat to free expression. Lins, appealing the sentence, argued the case reflects growing intolerance for satire and warned of a trend toward “emotional judgment” over reasoned discourse.
- It’s also sparked backlash among comedians, legal scholars, and media outlets who fear the ruling could set a precedent that criminalizes controversial humor and limits artistic and satirical speech in Brazil.
Sources: Brazil Reports, Red Lake Nation News, and Washington Post.