Female comics address misconduct in British comedy scene

Roisin Conaty and Lou Sanders, two British comedians, have discussed troubling behaviors in the comedy scene. In an interview with The Sunday Times, they mentioned there are "wrong 'uns" operating in the industry. Their comments follow revelations from fellow comedian Katherine Ryan, who previously identified a "dangerous" male comic on the circuit. Roisin and Lou shared their own experiences with male comedians, highlighting that many women in comedy now communicate about their issues. Roisin recalled that in the early 2000s, women did not talk much about troubling gigs. She pointed out that if a woman reports harassment, she might be labeled a "victim" for her entire career. Lou added that she has often faced sexist remarks while being introduced on stage. Katherine Ryan, who received a Feminist Hero Award last year, had spoken out about the alleged predator. She noted that the industry knew about the behavior, but many victims felt unable to speak up. Katherine explained that it was challenging for her to decide whether to continue working with the man she believed to be a perpetrator. She emphasized that while everyone was aware of his behavior, survivors had their reasons for not coming forward. Katherine believes in respecting a woman's right to share or withhold her story as she pleases.