Comedian and writer Amber Ruffin is speaking out after the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) abruptly canceled her scheduled performance at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Ruffin, known for her sharp political humor and unfiltered takes on current events, addressed the situation with characteristic wit on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers Monday night.
WHCA Cancels Ruffin’s Performance
Ruffin was initially booked for the high-profile event in February, with WHCA president Eugene Daniels praising her as the perfect fit for the occasion. However, on Saturday, Daniels informed WHCA members that her performance had been scrapped. In his email, he explained:
“At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists.”
The decision sparked speculation that Ruffin’s biting comedic style might have been deemed too controversial for the event, which traditionally balances lighthearted satire with the gravitas of political discourse.
Ruffin’s Satirical Response on Late Night
On Monday, Ruffin used her appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers to poke fun at the situation, engaging in a tongue-in-cheek exchange with Meyers that underscored the absurdity of her cancellation.
Meyers opened with a joke about a bodega burglary before Ruffin joined him on stage, pretending to chide him for being too divisive.
“See, Seth. The problem is that’s divisive. Take it from me. If there’s one thing I learned from this weekend, it’s you have to be fair to both sides,” she quipped.
Meyers countered:
“Amber, when people are objectively terrible, we should be able to point it out on television.”
Ruffin, playing along, responded:
“I thought that too… on Friday. But today is Monday, and Monday’s Amber Ruffin knows that when bad people do bad things, you have to treat them fairly and respectfully. When you watch The Sound of Music, you have to root for the singing children and the other people.”
“You mean the Nazis,” Meyers interjected.
“Calling them that is so one-sided,” Ruffin shot back, in a thinly veiled critique of political neutrality taken to an extreme.
She continued:
“We have a free press so that we can be nice to Republicans at fancy dinners. That’s what it says in the First Amendment. But the point is that you’re sowing the seeds of discord. And I used to be the same way. I thought when people take away your rights, erase your history, and deport your friends, you’re supposed to call it out. But I was wrong. Glad to find that out now, because if they had let me give that speech, oh baby, I would have been so terrifically mean.”
Political Comedy and the Correspondents’ Dinner
Ruffin’s remarks highlight ongoing tensions over the role of satire in political events like the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The event has a history of featuring comedians who use their platform to roast politicians and the media alike. However, in recent years, the dinner has faced scrutiny over the extent to which it should embrace hard-hitting humor versus maintaining a more diplomatic tone.
Ruffin’s response not only showcased her comedic prowess but also raised questions about who gets to define “divisiveness” in political discourse.
While the WHCA may have opted for a safer approach, Ruffin’s fans—and perhaps some disappointed dinner attendees—are left wondering what would have been had she taken the stage.
