By: R Benedito Ferrão Published in: *Scroll* Dare: February 24, 2026 Source: https://scroll.in/article/1090745/outrage-and-success-go-hand-in-hand-stand-up-comedian-daniel-fernandes-on-trauma-and-controversy The comedian discusses how the internet shapes his craft, his process, choice of topics and his relationship with his audiences.
Daniel Fernandes <https://www.instagram.com/absolutelydanny/>’ stand-up shows and YouTube videos <https://www.youtube.com/@absolutelydanny> have led the comedian to deal with a fair bit of controversy <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/stand-up-comedians-show-in-hyderabad-cancelled-following-threats-by-bjp-mla/article68349365.ece>. Yet, it is his attention to contemporary events that brings nuance to his comedic observations about society <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqcNqVC6CuM> and politics <https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xD9in5FrRoM>, public <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNrCNypywN8> and online life <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDVCltXyWmg> and even free speech <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEghIxPHQjY>. Last year, the stand-up comic was once again in the news <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-plus/society-culture/why-this-indian-comic-wont-apologise-for-joking-about-terrorism/articleshow/121676716.cms> when he was served a notice by two Supreme Court lawyers demanding that he take down a clip <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xALPKtwZos&t=22s> from one of his shows where his routine included, among other things, observations about the situation in Kashmir. Fernandes stood his ground, explaining in a post <https://www.instagram.com/p/DKdsbfly7-C/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=7ce8aa87-ffa5-4aa3-bff7-cb8f3578623c> on social media that in a time when there is a global “trend of stifling voices, … [l]aughter wields a certain kind of power … that might make certain groups of people uneasy…” Even so, he emphasised that the intent of his comedy “is never to change [people’s] point of view … I just enjoy talking about stuff that makes us uncomfortable and maybe offer some perspective. I am not important – politicians and the citizens they serve are.” Caste <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdvVkMmArQM>, religion <https://www.instagram.com/absolutelydanny/reel/C7MNwIktU5V/> and gender <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Cql4qMrQ8> are all fair game in Fernandes’s repertoire. But this is not material that he takes on simply to get a rise out of his audience: his approach to these subjects demonstrating humor laced with analysis and careful research. Still, the wry, cerebral touch Fernandes brings to his comedic artistry is accompanied by more than a bit of ribaldry and raunch, for sex <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ-3BZKbhlQ>, salaciousness <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWS6UHRQ81c>, and sex-positivity <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw2Pd6-uSbk> all feature in his entertainment. Fernandes’ crowd work <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehk2UcQVt7g> is equally skilled: the audience at his shows is playfully skewered without being mercilessly shamed. Notably, even as he sends up the crowd, the performer also turns his gaze upon himself, particularly with regard to matters concerning mental health. In this interview, the comedian reflects on his process, choice of topics and his relationship with his audiences. He also talks about his brushes with controversy, how the internet has affected comedy and what his fans may expect of him in the near future. *RBF: So, what’s a good Goan Christian boy like you doing in a profession like this?* *DF:* If you want God-given talent, you have to go to Church 😊. *What do you have against self-identified “**motivational influencers* <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHPFVNtZ9lU>*”?* I find it very hard to take directions from people who haven’t travelled to my destination. A lot of these “motivational influencers” come from privileged backgrounds whose biggest trauma might be caused by their parents cancelling a European summer holiday. How could they ever relate to the struggle of the common man? You want to take life advice from that guy? *In your shows, you are open about being in therapy but also about issues of** mental health* <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LHUxFRNguY>* more generally. These would have been taboo themes in the past. What has changed in this regard, socially, and what role do you see comedy playing in facilitating more open discussions about mental well-being?* I am open with my struggles regarding mental health because I need a creative outlet to deal with my condition. It also helps that we as a society have finally woken up to how damaged we are because of generational trauma that has been handed down as inheritance. Add to that a highly capitalistic system that traps you in an endless cycle of exploitation (aka jobs) where burnout is masked as hustle and worn with a badge of honor. As a result, we as artists have a ready audience of anxious, depressed and broken people who need an outlet for everything they’re dealing with. Nobody is okay. And that’s okay. *This year began with many adopting the** 2016 challenge* <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy1e605dvgo>* on social media. What would 2026 Daniel Fernandes say to his earlier self?* 2016 Daniel is very pleased. 2026 Daniel says, “We’re just getting started.” *You have been very vocal in your** support of Palestinians* <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l4o64Y0MP4>*, bringing humor to your observations about their displacement, their political struggle, and the violence they experience. Often, the use of humor can aid the avoidance of heavy subjects, yet you have been able to do the opposite. How do you find your audiences reacting to this approach?* Comedy is about frequency. I feel my audience and I are on similar wavelengths which is why we are able to get into a room together and laugh at things that would make most people uncomfortable. I believe as an artist you must find your voice before you find your audience. I am thankful that I have a growing tribe of people who enjoy my work while I attempt the former. *The internet has expanded the reach of comedians, yet it also means that a controversial joke – especially if it has to do with religion or politics – may be** amplified, misinterpreted, or weaponised* <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHVphRuqbDU>*. You are no stranger to such occurrences and, rather than sweep them under the rug, in your shows, you have been known to remind your audiences of such episodes! Are you a glutton for punishment?* Outrage and success go hand in hand in Indian comedy. Given what I talk about on stage, if I didn’t piss a few people off, I’d be very disappointed with myself. An important distinction to note here is that I do not set out to offend anyone. I just like talking about the world we live in and not everybody enjoys their biases being challenged. Add fiber optic internet and unprocessed trauma to the equation, and you have a very volatile online audience. It’s an occupational hazard I don’t give much thought to. *Crowd-work or observational comedy. Do you have a preference?* Both require skills that often complement each other so it’s hard to have a preference. I enjoy how written jokes land just as much as the ones I come up with in the moment. Crowd-work done right feels like magic because the comedian is dropping punchlines out of thin air with little to no prep. At the same time a very astute observation that’s crafted into an excellent joke leaves the audience thinking, “How did I not see this? It was right there!” To get nearly as good as the room demands for both these styles, you have to be a good joke writer first, and that takes a while. *Death, family, inter-generational trauma and conflict, the pandemic and collective trauma, and your relationship with your late father are some of the fun topics that come up in** Do You Know Who I Am?* <https://deadant.co/a-celebration-of-life-daniel-fernandes-on-his-new-show-do-you-know-who-i-am-melbourne-comedy-festival-experience/>* What would you like your audience to take away from this show?* *Do You Know Who I Am?* (the show I’m currently touring) is an exercise in processing loss. I relive everything I went through during my father’s passing every time I perform these jokes. I also know that my audience is grieving – the loss of a loved one, a friendship, a career, or the box of stash they can’t seem to find, and I guess if I can show them the funny side of the pain they’re in, maybe it won’t hurt that much. It worked for me. *Your latest tour begins in India and then expands abroad with several dates in Europe. Are you going to any new cities this time around? Is there a location you’re looking forward to visiting? How do you prepare for new places?* The European leg of my tour includes first performances in cities like Luxembourg, Gent, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Lisbon, Riga, Helsinki and Tallin while also returning to favorites Amsterdam and Utrecht. I’m looking forward to having my endurance tested. Preparation in terms of performance is minimal. I write material that translates easily across borders. The European audience is going to watch the same show I’m touring in India, as is. The only real prep needed here is me packing the right amount of winter clothing. *A lot of your set has to do with topical situations. Do you still work in political goings on in India into your international performances?* I talk about Indian politics only if it’s relevant to an international audience. My set has much more to offer otherwise. *From past experience, how have your European audiences differed from ones at home in their reaction to your comedy?* At live shows, Indians are more energetic compared to Europeans. The laughs are bigger and the applause is thunderous. As a performer you have to calibrate your expectations accordingly while performing abroad. But what the Europeans lack in volume, they make up for in exchange rate. *“How would you feel if someone made fun of you after you died?” you ask in your YouTube special,** Alive and Vaccinated* <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-k7-XzRdLU>* (2023). Along those lines, how would you like to look back on what I hope will be a long-lived career and what might audiences expect from you in the years to come?* My nervous system willing, I’d like to keep building a global audience and continue touring as much as I can. I’ll save some time for self-reflection only after I’m gone. *R Benedito Ferrão is an Associate Professor of English and Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies at William & Mary, Virginia, USA. He is the recipient of the Jinlan Liu Prize for research in APIA studies and a University Professor for Teaching Excellence.* *Information about Daniel Fernandes’s performance can be found on his **Instagram page <https://www.instagram.com/absolutelydanny>.*
