Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan had no time for the tiresome argument about whether there’s a place for women in comedy.
The actress – who plays Clare in the Bafta-nominated Channel 4 sitcom – weighed in after a clip from the US conservative news show The Daily Wire was posted online.
In the short clip, one of the (male, obviously) hosts was heard sharing his view that the art of comedy is “inherently masculine”, suggesting that Emmy-winning comedian Sarah Silverman was only funny because she was, in his view, “emulating a man”.
In her response, Nicola reeled off a list of accomplishments Derry Girls has reached since its debut last year, pointing out the hugely popular show is led by “4/5 young women”.
She also noted that Derry Girls “has been Channel 4’s biggest comedy launch since 2004”, “the most successful comedy launch ever on [catch-up service] All 4” and “the most-watched show in Northern Ireland on record”, as well as “one of the top 10 most-watched on Netflix UK”.
“Dusty old dudes forcing me to humblebrag this early in the day,” she added. “You hate to see it!”
Nicola later shared a short video elaborating on the subject, saying: “So, it’s come to my attention that there’s a debate raging on on Twitter at the moment that sometimes as a woman in comedy, because I’m in a comedy programme, that you need to deal with and engage with this debate, and it feels so pointless and disrespectful.”
She sarcastically continued: “What people are debating is ‘are men funny?’. Why are we even asking that question?
“It’s so disrespectful, because women have been given so much more opportunity on television and on radio and on stage since the beginning of time to show how funny they are.
“Guys, I just want to say to you… just because you haven’t proven that you’re funny yet, as men, does not mean that you won’t be.”
Derry Girls has proved to be a huge hit for Channel 4 in the last year, with the show also reaching a new global audience since its debut on Netflix.
A third series has been commissioned, and is set to air in 2020.