NEW YORK – The new Hulu comedy series “Difficult People” has a storyline about a stand-up comedian dealing with the fallout from a tasteless joke.
“I can’t wait for Blue Ivy to be old enough for R. Kelly to piss on her” goes the line, which has outraged many Beyoncé fans. (Blue Ivy is Beyonce's daughter, and R. Kelly was accused of having sex with and urinating on an underage girl, went to trial, and was acquitted.)
Many have issue with show creator/producer Amy Poehler for allowing the joke in the show at all.
Dan Gainor, VP of Business and Culture for the Media Research Center, is not amused either. “In what universe does anyone think it’s OK to make jokes involving an accused (but acquitted) sex criminal urinating on someone’s daughter?" he told FOX411. "This is foul, disgusting and unfunny. And it steps into territory targeting children in a perverted way. Poehler and Hulu need to apologize ASAP.”
But Comedian Artie Lange says social media, not the joke, is to blame for Poehler’s new show’s plight.
“Social media is fan for a little flame that gets turned into fire but briefly," Lange said. "What goes on because of social media is that the power of a few people, usually nuts, gets attention. A few people get mad and put it out there and it adds fuel to the fire.”
Others agree the joke should be a non-issue, pointing out its a fictional show about people who are supposed to be unlikeable and, well, difficult.
“Being overly-sensitive is the new national pastime, especially when it comes to culture," said John DeVore, Editor of comedy site IAF.tv "‘Difficult People’ is a comedy about difficult people who say awful things.”
SiriusXM radio personality Cristina Palumbo says we have become a nation of overly sensitive "crybabies."
“We really have to stop slapping every comedian’s wrist for doing their jobs. When you're in the entertainment business you and those that surround you are subject to this type of humor," she said. "It's part of the job and goes with the territory."
In a world where many celebrities are quick to do damage control and issue an apology, Lange says he hopes Poehler doesn't jump on the “I’m sorry” bandwagon.
“In a perfect world, Amy shouldn’t say anything. I would love it if she didn’t," he said. "If it continues longer than 2 or 3 days she may have to, but if Bill Cosby hasn’t, I’m sure she could try not to. There’s nothing evil or bad about the joke. Amy should not be punished."
FOX411 reached out to Amy Poehler’s rep but did not receive comment, nor has she issued a public statement about this matter.
Yet.
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