Why Daniel Tosh’s ‘Rape Joke’ at the Laugh Factory Wasn’t Funny

Daniel Tosh Backlash

Rape jokes aren’t always terrible. But Daniel Tosh used humor to assert his power, says Elissa Bassist.

Published Jul. 11 2012 9:02PM EDT

articles/2012/07/11/why-daniel-tosh-s-rape-joke-at-the-laugh-factory-wasn-t-funny/daniel-tosh-cs_npm7lw — Paul Drinkwater / NBCU Photo Bank

I edit a humor column called Funny Women on TheRumpus.net, and during my first and last radio interview about “funny women,” the host asked me if I thought rape jokes were funny.

Elissa Bassist

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Why Daniel Tosh’s ‘Rape Joke’ at the Laugh Factory Wasn’t Funny

Rape jokes aren’t always terrible. But Daniel Tosh used humor to assert his power, says Elissa Bassist.

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Elissa Bassist