Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
In a shocking revelation, comedian Katherine Ryan disclosed that a fellow entertainer displayed explicit sex tapes to her and another female comedian moments before a performance. This incident involved a “very powerful, very famous, and not British” male comic, who left one of Ryan’s colleagues visibly disturbed after showcasing the videos in the green room, a space where performers gather before taking the stage. The incident raises concerns about image-based abuse and the troubling experiences of women in the entertainment sector.
Comedian Exposes Disturbing Behavior
The Green Room Incident
The unsettling event took place in the artists’ green room, where performers typically congregate before appearing on a TV set or stage. During a podcast appearance, Ryan, 41, recounted being among a small group of women when the incident occurred.
- “He was very famous, very rich, very powerful,” Ryan stated.
- She elaborated that the male comedian was showcasing explicit pictures and videos of himself engaging in sexual acts with women.
- “His penis was in a lot of these videos,” she added.
Colleague’s Discomfort
Ryan explained that a younger, emerging female comedian felt deeply uneasy after being shown the explicit content. The colleague confided in Ryan about her discomfort before having to perform.
“She felt very uncomfortable about that and then she came into my dressing room to be like, ‘Oh, I didn’t like him showing me that’ and she’s about to go on stage,” Ryan recounted.
Minority Experience
Ryan highlighted the vulnerability of female comedians, especially when starting out, describing them as often being in the minority within the industry.
“Yeah, stuff like that and being a minority in that situation, which female comedians, especially when I was starting out, were always minorities.”
Image-Based Abuse and the Law
Displaying sexually explicit images or videos of someone without their consent constitutes image-based abuse, a serious violation. Legal frameworks address the dissemination of such content, whether shared online, physically through photos or videos, or via text messages.
Definition of Private Materials
The legislation defines private materials as those depicting acts or body parts not typically exposed in public. This encompasses images exposing an individual’s pubic area, or images/videos of someone engaging in sexual acts or posing in a provocative manner, according to government guidelines.
Challenges Faced by Women in Comedy
Ryan further explained that there are actions men can take in entertainment green rooms that women cannot, highlighting systemic inequalities.
- “We can’t take a night bus. We can’t sleep on the floor with like, four other comedians starting out a lot of times,” she remarked.
- “We have children that we have to look after, and then we get fans who, like, could kill us.”
Praise for Fellow Comedian
Ryan lauded comedian Nikki Glaser for her adeptness in humorously addressing the challenges women encounter within the industry.
Industry Scrutiny and Safety
Ryan contrasted the situation with the scrutiny that male comedians face, emphasizing disparities in safety and public exposure.
“Nikki Glaser, who’s doing amazing in America and is hosting the Golden Globes for the second year in a row, she would make a joke of it on her Instagram,” Ryan said.
“She’d be like, come kill me in Cincinnati at 7pm come kill me in San Diego. I’ll be here at 8pm we have to publish where we are at night, and we’re always alone. It’s a bit different.”
Previous Experiences
Ryan has previously spoken about her encounters with concerning male behavior at the start of her career, describing instances of being followed and feeling unsafe during interactions.