Considering the fact that the new Star Wars movie eclipsed all non-Force-related forms of media and entertainment in recent days, I’m pretty sure that Mike Epps’s Netflix stand-up comedy special, Don’t Take It Personal, wasn’t on many people’s radars. Released on Friday, December 18, I was completely unaware of its existence until I logged into my Netflix account this past weekend. I decided to delve in because I’m a sucker for a good, hearty laugh. Plus, I’ve enjoyed Epps in numerous TV shows and films over the years, chiefly Survivor’s Remorse, Bessie, Something New, and Jumping The Broom. That’s a good track record if you ask me.
As a comedian, Epps is the crazy, filter-less uncle you try not to pay “no nevermind” to, especially when he says something stupid and/or offensive, which he’s bound to say because that’s just how he does. But Epps doesn’t like being called uncle, especially by young, attractive women because it reminds him that he’s getting old. His response when a young woman calls him uncle? “I’m not your uncle, little young b—h, I wanna f–k ya. I wanna do something strange for a little piece of change!” Am I too getting old? Because nothing about that “joke,” nothing about degrading a woman while simultaneously trying to get in her pants, reads as funny. Predatory much?
Lewd language and misogyny have long been akin to adult comedy, especially by male, African-American comedians (that doesn’t make it right, I’m just telling it like it is). And while it has never been Epps’s comedic style to hit his audience over the head while screaming “Message!” I’m wondering why there isn’t one in his stand-up special, especially considering everything that’s going on and all that he’s been through and claimed to have overcome in his personal life (alleged drugs, violence, and assaults, etc.). Instead, all I heard throughout Don’t Take It Personal was attack after attack on women.
In between telling stories about growing up poor, his failed attempt at selling drugs and his unease with attracting older women, Epps also referred to his “ugly baby mamas,” and mimicked the cat-like sounds he thinks a young, a.k.a., virile woman’s vagina makes when in the throes of passion, vs. that of an older, a.k.a., haggard and unattractive woman’s. Then came my least favorite part. Apparently we women can be stingy with our nether regions, and Epps isn’t having it: “God gave you that p—y to give to us [men] sometimes. That ain’t your p—y all the time. You think ‘cause it’s with you all the time that it’s yours all the time. And it’s not. Share that.”
Sigh. Once again, not very funny. I’m over hearing men telling women what we can and can’t do with our bodies and the suggestion that what naturally belongs to us isn’t really ours but is better served for male consumption is tiring. And yes, I do recognize that the title of this comedy special is Don’t Take It Personal, but the title is no excuse to let its contents off the hook. No subject (or delivery of said subject) is off limits in comedy. But when you basically condemn women and refer to us as b—hes for the sake of calling us b—hes – where’s the funny? When you’ve got a mic in your hand and a major platform, that’s just lame, lazy and completely unoriginal. Where’s the deeper social commentary? The irony? The story or lesson? Where’s the growth? Maybe that’s just not Mike Epps’s thing. Maybe I’m not part of his target audience. Or maybe what he said just isn’t funny.
It’s important to note that, perhaps, to soften the blow of his women-centered jokes, two talented women musicians were employed throughout Epps’s set – a DJ and a pianist. Like him, they were both formally dressed and bookended the show, in addition to accenting particular moments. But their involvement doesn’t make up for the rest of the 50 or so minutes Epps is on stage carrying on about women.
At one point in the stand-up special, Epps stated that “It’s time for me to shine.” Well, this ain’t the way to do it. Earlier, I referred to Epps as that crazy, filter-less uncle you try not to pay “no nevermind” to, especially when he says something stupid and/or offensive, which he’s bound to say ‘cause that’s just how he does. But that is until he’s no longer funny and you can’t help but to take what he says personally. Don’t Take It Personal left me unamused. (Side note, it also reminded me of the Jermaine Jackson song of the same name, which I immediately downloaded, listened to and enjoyed more than Epps’s stand-up comedy special).
