Iliza Shlesinger Deadline Interview Controversy

Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images.

If you're an avid follower of all things comedy, you'll know that there's something brewing on Twitter. If not, join in! It's fun, and everyone involved has a good sense of humor. It started with comedian Iliza Shlesinger, who has three specials on Netflix right now and a show on Freeform called Truth & Iliza. In an interview with Deadline, Shlesinger took aim at women who do comedy.

"I’m banging my head against the wall because women want to be treated as equals, and we want feminism to be a thing, but it’s really difficult when every woman makes the same point about her vagina, over and over," Schlesinger said. She added that she could "close her eyes" at the Improv and not be able to distinguish one woman's set from another's. She continued, "I think I’m the only woman out there that has a joke about World War II in my set."

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For the folks in the back, that's what you call "dragging an entire category of women." Shlesinger also helpfully explained that the reason Tina Fey is so successful is because her humor is "smart" and "men can laugh at it, too."

Comics on Twitter are equal parts enraged that Shlesinger would tear down other comedians and baffled by the absurdity of it all. Liza Treyger, who has performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers, didn't mince words. She wrote on Twitter, "I talk about my pussy and fucking and I'm a better stand up comedian than you will ever be. Save your money cause you a hack." She followed up that initial shot with a series of Tweets, all aimed at the interview.

. @iliza I talk about my pussy and fucking and I'm a better stand up comedian than you will ever be. Save your money cause you a hack.
— Liza Treyger (@GlitterCheese) June 15, 2017

It's just truly nuts for any comic to tell another comic what they can and can't talk about. Not feminist to tell women what to say.
— Liza Treyger (@GlitterCheese) June 15, 2017

I also like that world war 2 just is unique hahahhaha hello holocaust jokes!
— Liza Treyger (@GlitterCheese) June 15, 2017

Men stopped women from talking our bodies cause they didn't like it and now we get to and it's a treat. Dirty comic forever!!!!!! Pussy puss
— Liza Treyger (@GlitterCheese) June 15, 2017

Annie Lederman of MTV's Girl Code piped in with a cheeky admonishment.

Hey female comics, don't talk about your pussies on stage because it takes the attention away from your naked Instagram selfies!
— Annie Lederman (@annielederman) June 15, 2017

Shlesinger tweeted Thursday night in defense of her interview, arguing that she "earned her opinion."

Anyway, I stand by what I said. The stakes are too high in comedy to phone it in. And if you work hard, you're golden. If you have an issue
— Iliza Shlesinger (@iliza) June 15, 2017

With my work ethic, ask any comic who knows me. I've earned this opinion.
— Iliza Shlesinger (@iliza) June 15, 2017

Not all clap backs were harsh — these women are all colleagues, remember? In response, comedian Sara Schaefer agreed that Shlesinger had a good "work ethic" and was "very talented." Schaefer was just confused as to why the comedian decided to drag the comedy community.

I was just wondering why you felt the need to perpetuate negative stereotypes in order to separate yourself.
— Sara ❄ Schaefer (@saraschaefer1) June 15, 2017

It's all a little bonkers. As many on Twitter have pointed out, Shlesinger made one giant pussy joke on Truth & Iliza when she dressed up like an actual vagina. Others are delighting in the fact that, hey, a lot of women comedians do tell World War II jokes. Some have even delivered pussy/Holocaust mashup jokes, because that's what Twitter is for.

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WAIT IS THIS A WORLD WAR 2 JOKE pic.twitter.com/GPEQxgzh8m
— Chelsea Peretti (@chelseaperetti) June 16, 2017

My grandfather and 42 other brave WW2 soldiers died on the fields of Vagina, and I don't appreciate @iliza making light of it.
— Geonn Cannon (@GeonnCannon) June 16, 2017

I like to call my vagina ~Trench Warfare~ because a lot of good men died down there.

OH LOOK YOU CAN DO BOTH @iliza pic.twitter.com/jl5SF8l4kh
— Kat Buckley (@awkwardlyours) June 16, 2017

.@iliza my vagina is like World War II it just needs D-Day pic.twitter.com/festnREf3r
— Orli Matlow (@HireMeImFunny) June 15, 2017

I can't wait to unleash my new killer bit comparing my vagina to WWII.
— Bonnie McFarlane (@bonniemcfarlane) June 15, 2017

It's not just women comedians who are getting involved. This is Twitter — everyone's got a quip ready. Anthony Jeselnik's got one. Joel Kim Booster's got one. Even Ira Madison, culture critic and columnist, has something to say.

I, for one, love comics giving wild, shit-talking interviews that throw half the industry under the bus. Why else even give an interview?
— Anthony Jeselnik (@anthonyjeselnik) June 16, 2017

Hey just to get ahead of things, I am actually the only comic out there with WWII material where the pov is very Anti-American.
— Joel Kim Booster (@ihatejoelkim) June 16, 2017

"women only joke about their vaginas but I'm smart, I joke about World War II" https://t.co/cQTLFLBoZl
— Ira Madison III (@ira) June 16, 2017

I think we all got the fact that you have a hard-on for the Normandy landings sis https://t.co/7tTi6zHSwi
— Ira Madison III (@ira) June 16, 2017

The best part about beefs in this community is that good comedy usually emerges. Schaefer said on Twitter that, in response to the controversy, she'll be arranging her own "pussy jokes" comedy show in the near future. If you're in L.A. or NYC and don't mind casual joking at the expense of the nether regions, should be up your alley.

Been talking to some friends today, we are gonna do a 50 Vagina Jokes show in LA & maybe also NYC. Stay tuned for details. ✌?
— Sara ❄ Schaefer (@saraschaefer1) June 16, 2017

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