In recent days, there has been a storm around Nicolay Ramm and NRK in connection with the comedy program “Helt Ramm in Tokyo”
On Tuesday, NRK decided to republish three episodes of the series. The decision came after feedback from some in the audience that they experienced Ramm’s portrayal of a Japanese game show host as stigmatizing and hurtful.
– For hair ulcers
Comedian Yousef Hadaoui, among others known from NRK’s «Satiriks», believes that people are generally too sore and can be offended too easily.
Removes “Helt Ramm” episodes after criticism
– To spare everyone, we have to think ten times before we make something. Humor does not work that way. We have always thought about it, but developments now make it difficult to create humor, especially satire. Some will laugh, and some will cry. That’s always the case, but now we comedians have become targeters, he tells Dagbladet.
The comedian thinks we are doing too well in Norway, and that is precisely why people need something to complain about. Hadaoui is himself from Bøler and grew up with, among others, Harald Eia in “Ut i vår hage” and Robert Stoltenberg with “Borettslaget” on screen.
He has seen the development in recent years, and thinks about how much humor was just a decade ago, without there being much debate at the time.
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– I think you can joke with most things. Everything I produce comes from a good place and is made with love, he emphasizes and continues:
– We have to endure a little more, then. Especially when it comes to humor.
– A clear boundary
Hadaoui wants an end to all comedians being cut under one comb. He acknowledges that people have “shit out” at times, but believes there is a clear line between what is inside and what is racist.
He defends comedian colleague Nicolay Ramm.
– There is a difference between pure harassment and humor. Painting oneself black in the face, playing bongo drums and being thrown bananas after is harassment. Learning languages and jargons is a pure piece of work, he says and continues:
Storm of complaints against NRK
– I think the situation with Nicolay Ramm is bad. Neither he nor other Norwegian comedians are racists. We are placed in a booth we do not belong in.
Influences respond
Influencer Jenny Huse is among those who have reacted strongly to “Helt Ramm in Tokyo”, which she believes helps to normalize the stereotype around Norwegian-Asians. To VG Huse said the following about the case:
– I also react to the fact that when they first want that role, that they do not just hire an Asian man. Why is it not good enough? she asked, and continued:
– If someone had worn dark make-up and a dark wig, people would have reacted more strongly. That does not mean it’s okay to do it with Asians. They make fun of that kind of character with the stereotypical accent.
Made scenes live. Espen Aas: – Nothing funny
Letter from the embassy
In the wake of the debate, Yousef Hadaoui shared one posts on his Instagram profile Thursday. The post contains photos of a letter the comedian received from the Colombian embassy two years ago.
The reason why Hadaoui only shares the letter now, is that he wants to take part in the debate around accusations of racism in the humor, and support a colleague, he tells Dagbladet.
The letter states that the Colombian embassy is dissatisfied with an episode in the comedy program “Black humor” on NRK, where Yousef Hadaoui plays a Colombian journalist who asks people on the street what they think about, among other things, illegal drugs. The contents of the letter are reproduced in full below:
Dagbladet has approached the Colombian embassy and asked for a comment. They have not yet responded.
Hadaoui thinks the content of the letter is hair-raising, and generally thinks the development in humor is going in a sad direction.
– It’s actually a little scary to think about where we have come from. I have talked to several colleagues, and as comedians we are now in a place we do not want to be, he says.
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