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15 Comedians Whose Year Was Noticeably Rougher Than Most

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A woman and a man sit close together, smiling at an event. The woman has long brown hair and wears a sleeveless white top; the man has short dark hair and wears a blue button-up shirt. People and drinks are in the background.

Comedy is supposed to be the escape, the place where bad news gets turned into punchlines. But in 2025, the joke was often on the comedians themselves. From careers derailed by controversy and public backlash to legal trouble, canceled projects, and personal tragedies that made headlines worldwide, this was a year when stand-up, late-night, and sketch comedy collided head-on with politics, culture wars, and real-world consequences.

This list examines 15 comedians who had a worse 2025 than just about everyone else, tracing the moments that propelled them into the news for all the wrong reasons and revealing how unforgiving the spotlight can be when comedy stops being funny.

1. Gold Dagal

A man with short black hair and a trimmed beard, wearing a dark blue shirt, holds a microphone and looks forward with a serious expression against a dark background.

This stand-up comic and organizer of Comedy Roast Battles PH was killed by unidentified assailants in March 2025, reportedly connected to content in his routine. A deeply tragic loss for the comedy world.

2. Gary Little

A bald man holding a microphone is speaking passionately onstage, with a blurred blue background displaying large text behind him.

Beloved Scottish comedian died in a fatal hill-walking accident in August 2025, cutting short a long and impactful career on the UK comedy circuit.

3. Leo Lins

A person wearing a bright red shirt with yellow smiley faces and "HA" text holds a microphone and looks surprised or expressive, standing against a plain, neutral background.

Brazilian stand-up was sentenced to over eight years in prison for inciting intolerance with discriminatory jokes, a shocking legal outcome that reignited global debate on free speech vs. hate speech.

4. Jimmy Kimmel

A man in a dark suit and striped tie smiles while seated in a studio set with city skyline and night sky backdrop, suggesting a late-night talk show setting.

Once a staple of late-night TV, Kimmel’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled off the air indefinitely by ABC after a controversial monologue about activism and political violence triggered fierce backlash and regulatory threats.

5. Tim Dillon

A man wearing a black shirt and cap sits in front of a microphone, wearing headphones, speaking during a podcast. The background features deep red curtains.

Removed from the Riyadh Comedy Festival lineup after making pointed jokes about slavery and human rights, a sign of how political sensitivities collided with comedy at major global events.

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6. Comedians at the Riyadh Comedy Festival

A promotional poster for the Riyadh Comedy Festival, featuring headshots of various comedians arranged in four rows, with event dates "26 Sep to 9 Oct" on a vibrant red and yellow background.

Many big-name comics (e.g., Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart) faced serious criticism for participating in a state-sponsored festival tied to human rights concerns with some artists speaking out and others caught in the ethical crossfire.

7. Aziz Ansari

A woman and a man sit close together, smiling at an event. The woman has long brown hair and wears a sleeveless white top; the man has short dark hair and wears a blue button-up shirt. People and drinks are in the background.

Specifically drew heat from fellow comedians like Jimmy Kimmel for performing at the Riyadh festival under a regime accused of repressing free speech.

8. Atsuko Okatsuka

A person with a short, rounded haircut holds a microphone and gestures while performing onstage. They wear a colorful, patterned shirt and are lit dramatically against a dark background.

Turned down the same Saudi festival and publicly criticized censorship conditions, a bold but personally stressful position that highlighted the dilemmas comics face globally.

9. Chevy Chase

An older man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a gray suit jacket, turtleneck, and bead necklaces, stands outdoors with a surprised expression. People and a blurry building are in the background.

A 2025 documentary revisited past controversial comments, prompting sharp condemnations from peers and reigniting debates around accountability and offensive humor in comedy’s history.

10. Comedians Facing Cancel Culture

A bearded man with curly hair and glasses, wearing a gray sweater, gestures with his hand while speaking onstage against a dark background with blurred lights.

A number of comedians have been spotlighted in commentary about being “canceled” or criticized in 2025 for inflammatory content, underscoring how volatile public opinion has become around comedic expression.

11. Tony Hinchcliffe

A man with short dark hair, wearing a black and green jacket, holds a microphone and speaks on stage against a dark, blurred background.

Although not breaking major news himself this year, Hinchcliffe has lingered in online “worst of” lists and fan backlash conversations, a sign that comedic reputation issues still dog him in 2025.

12. Joe Rogan

A man wearing headphones speaks into a microphone in a podcast studio, with a large illuminated "JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE" sign visible in the background.

Often debated online as not being a comedian at all and repeatedly criticized for his style this year, Rogan’s presence in comedy circles continued to spawn ridicule, a less dramatic but notable public rough patch.

13. Andrew Schulz & Bert Kreischer

Two men sit on a set with green plants; one man in a black shirt and hat is laughing, while the other’s arm and crossed leg are visible on the right side of the image. Warm lighting and modern decor are in the background.

Ranked in some fan polls of the “worst comedians of 2025,” they’ve faced a mix of backlash over material and shifting audience perception.

14. Other Touring Comics with Rough Gigs

Four men stand together in front of a blue sky background, smiling and posing casually. Three wear collared shirts and jeans, while one wears a sleeveless red shirt and a camouflage cap.

Online discussions in 2025 highlighted several touring comics whose live shows regularly devolved into “shitshows” reflective of challenging live-stand-up environments in a politically charged era.

15. Late-Night Scene Turmoil (Colbert, Fallon, etc.)

Two men sit in a theater audience holding green beer bottles, both wearing dark shirts and looking toward the stage with focused expressions. Other people are seated behind them.

Beyond individual comedians, the 2025 late-night ecosystem was in flux with The Late Show ending its run and peers like Stephen Colbert facing public attacks and career pressures partly fueled by political commentary.

Explore more vintage content:

2025 was one of those years where comedy, long a mirror to cultural tension,s became part of the story itself. From ethical debates over where to perform, to legal boundaries of humor, to the real-world fallout of words on stage and screen, the comedy world grappled with some of the toughest scrutiny it’s ever faced. If you loved this content, check out

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Dana Aliaga



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