Humor is, as they say, subjective. But at least one person found a recent Carnival Cruise Line comedian’s jokes inappropriate and suggested the humorist should be fired for having told them.
About the Adults-Only Comedy Show
As he has had to do from time to time, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, addressed the topic during a recent video posted to his Facebook page.
It apparently began when someone suggested that a comedian should be fired for having told offensive jokes at the adults-only show on board a Carnival ship. (For those not familiar with Carnival’s Punchliner Comedy Club, it typically offers two shows an evening, the second of which is aimed specifically at an adults-only audience. This is made abundantly clear via signage as well as notations in the Fun Times program, not to mention live announcements before the show begins.)
Despite this, an unhappy passenger raised the issue with Heald. “Being a comedian in 2026 is one heck of a difficult profession,” the former cruise director acknowledged. “Probably more-so today than ever.”
‘Walk On By’
“Most jokes are at somebody else’s expense,” Heald explained, citing such classic examples as Laurel bullying Hardy and “Jerry the Mouse dropping a bowling ball on Tom the Cat’s head.”
He added that it’s something of a truism among humorists that “if a joke is funny enough, people often forget their right to take offense.”
They do, however, maintain that right. Which is where Heald appealed to people’s judgment. “The adult comedy shows are uncensored,” he reminded, “and if you are in any doubt, don’t go. Please don’t go!”
Additionally, “If you don’t like a joke a comedian says [at] the Punchliner, please don’t write to me and say that you demand that they be fired. It’s just silly.”
Instead, he offered these wise words: Go and do something that does bring you joy and brings you happiness.
“Most of our Punchliner headliners will also tell you that if a joke is funny enough, people often forget their right to take offense.”
“If you don’t like a joke a comedian says [at] the Punchliner, please don’t write to me and say that you demand that they be fired. It’s just silly.”
“Go and do something that does bring you joy and bring you happiness. Walk on by!”
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