Hasan Minhaj, the popular comedian known for his Netflix comedy specials and political show, Patriot Act, is facing criticism for the inclusion of false stories in his performances. The stories in question involve racial discrimination and a terrifying incident involving his daughter.
Minhaj initially gained fame with his show titled Homecoming King in 2017, which garnered widespread acclaim. He then went on to host the political talk show, Patriot Act, on Netflix.
In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Minhaj defended his stories, stating that they are based on “emotional truths” rather than factual accuracy. However, upon investigation, the magazine discovered that many of Minhaj’s stories were factually incorrect or presented in the wrong timeline.
Various individuals who played a role in Minhaj’s stories have come forward to declare them completely false. One such individual is the unidentified woman in his homecoming dance story, who revealed that the events depicted never took place. Another is Cory Monteilh, also known as Brother Eric, who confirmed that the story involving him was fabricated.
Perhaps the most shocking fabrication came in the form of a story about suspicious white powder falling on Minhaj’s daughter. Minhaj admitted that this story was entirely made up, causing concern amongst his wife, Beena Patel, who criticized his comedy and warned about the potential danger it posed to their children.
Furthermore, Minhaj made politically shocking claims, including accusing Jared Kushner of sitting in a chair reserved for an imprisoned Saudi activist. However, this accusation was later proven to be false.
Despite claims that his stories are grounded in emotional truth, there have been issues with fact-checking and alleged sexism on the sets of Patriot Act. Female researchers were reportedly excluded from the writers’ room during rewrites, resulting in accusations of gender discrimination, sex-based harassment, and retaliation. The case has since been settled out of court.
Minhaj’s fake political stories have blurred the lines between entertainment and opinion journalism, raising questions about the integrity of his work. As of now, he has not commented on the interview or the allegations made against him.
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