LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hasan Minhaj, the comedian known for his Netflix comedy specials and political show, has recently come under scrutiny for the authenticity of certain anecdotes in his performances.
Some have questioned the accuracy of stories involving racial discrimination and a troubling incident involving his daughter.
Hasan Minhaj accused of fabricating stories
During his performances, Minhaj shared stories like waiting awkwardly at a white girl's door for a homecoming dance date, claiming that Brother Eric had "infiltrated" his local mosque, describing a distressing incident with white powder and his daughter, recalling a threat at a Saudi Arabian Embassy, and witnessing Jared Kushner occupying a seat designated for an imprisoned Saudi activist.
However, The New Yorker found that many details in his stories were factually wrong or in the wrong order.
The woman from Minhaj's story, where he was left at her door, said the incident never happened. She clarified that she had rejected a friend's invitation before the dance.
She also revealed that she and her family faced online threats and doxing because Minhaj didn't protect her identity and disclosed she was engaged to an Indian American man.
A source mentioned that Minhaj used a picture of her and her husband at a show with their faces blurred out. When she talked to Minhaj about the problems caused, he didn't take it seriously.
Hasan Minhaj defends his stories as '70% emotional truth'
In an interview published by The New Yorker, Minhaj defended his stories, claiming they are rooted in "emotional truths."
"Every story in my style is built around a seed of truth," he told the outlet. "My comedy Arnold Palmer is 70 percent emotional truth and then 30 percent hyperbole, exaggeration, fiction."
Minhaj justified making up the stories by saying that "emotional truth" matters more than "factual truth."
Fans support Hasan Minhaj after claims of 'fabricated' stories
Amid these controversies, there has been an outpouring of support from his fans.
One user wrote, "He’s a comedian lol if it’s a funny story it’s a funny story." Another added, "People outraged finding out that scripts exist."
"But don't all comedians do this?" questioned a third, while a fourth added, "Aren't they just jokes, real or not? Fact or fiction, I thought the end game is to just make his audience laugh...not go do research."
Someone else chimed in, "Seriously ? do people really think that comedians tell only true stories … OMG that would be boring and a short lived career for many."
