No Laughing Matter: Local Comedians React to Ralphie May

Comedian Ralphie May won’t be taking the stage in Fargo after all. The comedian postponed his show at the Fargo Theater, along with two others.

It’s all part of the fallout after a clip surfaced of a profane rant by May that some say is against Native Americans.

Local comics say people might just assume they’re supporting Ralphie May during this ordeal.

But they actually say he’s largely getting what he deserves.
 
It’s all about getting a laugh for these Fargo comedians.

But they’re not laughing at Ralphie May, after a decade-old clip of him resurfaced ahead of shows in the tri-state area.

It took social media by storm and became one of the top trending clips for days.
 
“It wasn’t good,” says Comedian Michelle Pearson
 
The rant against Native Americans led to a show in Bemidji to be canceled and Native American groups demanding an apology and threatening protests.

Comedian JD Provorse says the controversy probably got out of hand in this age of instant online reactions.
 
He says, “These people hear somebody screaming, so then they start screaming back, and it just get intense really quickly.”
 
But, he adds that some outrage is warranted in this instance.
 
“A lot more people feel empowered to speak up when they feel they’ve been offended or insulted,” Provorse explains.
 
Local comedians say Ralphie May has the right to say what he wants, but they say he also has to deal with the repercussions of saying those things, and they add that canceling his Bemidji show was probably a good idea.
 
“If you’re gonna do those type of jokes, then you’re gonna have to deal with that,” says comedian Marlin Wells. “Like, if I think I should be able to play the trumpet wherever I go I should expect to not be able to go to the library.”
 
Pearson hosts an open mic at the Red Raven every Tuesday.

She says if a comedian said what May said on her stage, she’d pull them aside and offer some harsh advice.
 
That advice? “What’s the point? You’re just wasting a Tuesday night.”
 
Comedians say there is a silver lining here.

May’s comments could start a conversation about what is and isn’t appropriate to say on stage.
 
It appears Ralphie May is taking part in that conversation.

He released a statement apologizing for offending people with his act.

He says he wants to learn more about Native American culture and quote “…be a conduit for things that we are not taught.”