• Influencers
Nov 12, 2012 4:20 PM EST
0
Comedian Issa Rae Makes Awkward AWESOME
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5_Issa63

It seems like this is a conversation people are still having, and we want you to have the final word. We have one male comedian friend (name withheld in case he gets mauled after this gets published) who says that pretty woman are rarely good comedians because they never get exposed to the same level of heckling that novice comedians go through when doing stand up. As a pretty lady comedian (gorgeous, even) how do you respond?
"Hahaha! Thank you for the compliment. I didn’t grow up feeling pretty at all. In fact, my mom would ALWAYS scold me for not putting effort into my appearance (even when I thought I was). I was (and kinda still am) a tomboy, so my looks don’t really play a factor in my comedy. I think funny is funny. If you’re looking for reasons not to laugh, you won’t — plain and simple. Comedy is just as subjective as beauty."

While your work is universally hilarious and relatable, it's also been entertainment that breaks racial stereotypes. Was that something you specifically set out to do or did it just happen organically through your story telling?
"I definitely wanted to break racial stereotypes. Repetitive stereotypes in the mainstream have been irking me for a long time, so I wanted to create something to combat it. I never imagined that my portrayal would catch on as it has, but I’m really happy to have offered something different."