Hasan Minhaj’s Broken Truths, and Taylor Swift’s Broken Google
Sep 22, 2023
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Comedian Hasan Minhaj's fabrication in his standup specials is discussed, along with the line between comedic embellishment and lying. They also talk about Disney's $60 billion bet on theme parks, Taylor Swift's underwhelming marketing strategy, and the controversy over Ryan Murphy's promised all-black season of American Horror Story.
Disney plans to invest $60 billion in its theme parks to offset streaming losses and attract new visitors.
Comedian Hasan Minhaj has been accused of exaggerating personal stories in his comedy specials, raising questions about the line between embellishment and lying in comedy.
Deep dives
Disney's Focus on Theme Parks amidst Streaming Losses
Disney announced plans to invest $60 billion in its theme parks over the next 10 years as its streaming service, Disney+, continues to lose money. The company aims to attract the 700 million Disney fans who have yet to visit a theme park. To offset streaming losses, Disney is offering a month-long private jet tour of every Disney park around the world for $115,000.
Comedian Hassan Minhaj's Exaggerated Personal Stories
Comedian Hassan Minhaj has been accused of exaggerating personal stories in his comedy specials. Examples include falsely claiming that his daughter was exposed to anthrax and hospitalized, and fabricating a story about an FBI informant infiltrating his family mosque. Minhaj has defended his use of storytelling techniques like hyperbole and changing details for entertainment purposes.
Ryan Murphy's Broken Promise of an All-Black Season of American Horror Story
Actress Angelica Ross revealed email correspondence with Ryan Murphy, where he promised an all-black season of American Horror Story starring her, Kiki Palmer, and Gabourey Sidibe. However, Murphy stopped responding and the project never materialized, raising concerns about representation and follow-through on diversity promises in the entertainment industry.
Taylor Swift's Puzzle-Driven Releases
Taylor Swift's recent release strategy involves fans solving puzzles on Google to reveal track names from her vault. While fans eagerly participate, some are critical of the elaborate promotional technique and would prefer straightforward releases of new music without the puzzle element.
Comedian Hasan Minhaj admitted to making up biographical stories involving racism and Islamophobia in his standup specials. Sam asks our BFF, comedian Jay Jurden, what the line is between comedic embellishment and lying, and how the revelations will affect other marginalized performers. Also this week, will one more teacup ride stem Disney’s streaming losses? Sam and Jay discuss Disney’s $60 billion bet on its theme parks, whether Taylor Swift’s latest puzzle stunt shows us that Swifties are getting a little old, and what American Horror Story could look like with an all-Black cast.