On a Sunday night, I received a DM on Instagram.
Someone had just discovered my stand-up comedy. They liked it enough to message me and ask how they could book tickets for my upcoming show.
That message alone made me happy. A new audience member. A new face in the crowd.
I replied, thanked them for reaching out, and was about to send the ticket link when another message popped up: “ But please don’t have a [specific female comedian] as your opening act.”
I paused.
Out of curiosity more than shock, I asked why.
The reply came quickly and casually: “Can’t tolerate her. Also, women are not funny.”
The first one was personal.
Why would someone feel comfortable sharing their hate toward a colleague/friend with me? What was the expectation here? That I’d reply with, “Hell yeah, totally agree, don’t worry, we’ll remove her just for you”? As if comedians are menu items you can customize based on prejudice.
But the second problem was bigger. Much bigger.
“Women are not funny.”
This sentence isn’t new. It’s been floating around for decades, repeated by people who are fully convinced it’s a fact, not an opinion. People who say it with confidence, as if humor has a gender setting.
And that’s the real issue.
This isn’t just an issue of personal taste or opinion about women’s comedy.
Comedy is subjective. What makes one person laugh might not work for another, and that applies to every artist, regardless of gender.
You might not like a specific comedian’s style. You might not connect with observational humor, dark comedy, political jokes, or crowd work. That’s normal.
But jumping from “I don’t enjoy this comedian” to “women are not funny” is where the logic completely collapses.
Comedy doesn’t fail because of gender. And history is full of women who have proven this on every stage imaginable, from stand-up specials to sitcoms, sketches, and so on.
So no, this isn’t about defending women comedians out of politeness or political correctness. It’s about calling out a lazy generalization that ignores how comedy actually works and how humans actually are.
Because the belief that “women are not funny” doesn’t just live in comments or DMs. It quietly shapes behavior. I’ve seen incredibly talented women—sharp writers, natural performers, people with a strong comedic voice—hesitate, delay, or completely avoid stepping on stage. Not because they lack ability, but because they’re exhausted before they even begin.
They know they might be judged differently, only because they’re women.
In a society that thrives on judgement, this kind of thinking raises the cost of trying. It turns the stage into a test women have to pass just to be allowed in, while others are allowed to fail their way forward.
And that’s how talent disappears, not because it isn’t there, but because it’s discouraged before it ever gets the chance to speak.
So I went back to the DM.
I sent them a link to my show, and they immediately booked their seats.
Then I picked up the phone and called the comedian he mentioned, and I asked her if she’s interested in opening for me.
Wissam Kamal
Wissam Kamal is a pioneering Middle Eastern stand-up comedian known for his sharp wit, fearless honesty, and unfiltered storytelling. With over 15 years in entertainment, he has performed across Beirut, the GCC, MENA, and Europe, connecting with diverse audiences in multiple languages. He released a full stand-up special on YouTube that drew thousands of viewers worldwide, and beyond the stage, he’s a filmmaker and content creator reaching over 200,000 followers combined. Now entering his “Unfiltered Era,” Wissam brings his rawest and most personal material yet to live audiences.Wissam Kamal is a pioneering Middle Eastern stand-up comedian known for his sharp wit, fearless honesty, and unfiltered storytelling. With over 15 years in entertainment, he has performed across Beirut, the GCC, MENA, and Europe, connecting with diverse audiences in multiple languages. He released a full stand-up special on YouTube that drew thousands of viewers worldwide, and beyond the stage, he’s a filmmaker and content creator reaching over 200,000 followers combined. Now entering his “Unfiltered Era,” Wissam brings his rawest and most personal material yet to live audiences.
