Comedian Hasan Minhaj has acknowledged that he embellished and invented certain elements in his stand-up performances, including a significant anecdote featured in his 2022 Netflix special titled "The King’s Jester."
During this comedy special, Minhaj, who is 37 years old, shares with his audience an incident where he and his wife allegedly received a letter containing a white powder, which he believed to be anthrax.
When the comedian opened the package, he accidentally spilled powder on his daughter. They quickly rushed her to the hospital, where the doctor reassured them that it wasn't anthrax.
Later that night, Minhaj reflected on his wife's words: "You have the freedom to say whatever you want on stage, but we have to deal with the repercussions. I don't care about Time magazine labeling you an 'influencer.' If you ever jeopardize our children's safety again, I'll leave you without hesitation."
In a recent interview featured in The New Yorker, Minhaj openly acknowledged that his daughter was never exposed to anthrax and did not require hospitalization.
The former Patriot Act host explained that each of his stories adheres to a foundation of truth, stating, "My comedy Arnold Palmer comprises 70 percent emotional truth – something that genuinely occurred – and an additional 30 percent that involves hyperbole, exaggeration, and fictional elements."
He further mentioned that when he received a letter containing white powder, he amusingly remarked to his wife at the time that they should consider the possibility of it being anthrax.
Discussing his fictional characters and narratives, Minhaj expressed that he doesn't view them as a form of manipulation.
He remarked that he believed the audience was seeking an emotional roller-coaster experience. He also mentioned that for those who might think it was too far-fetched, he wasn't bothered because that was precisely the intention. Furthermore, he emphasized that all of his narratives were firmly rooted in reality.
He added that he uses the tools of standup comedy, such as hyperbole, changing names and locations, and compressing timelines, to tell entertaining stories. He explained that this is inherent to the art form and likened it to going to a Haunted House, where the point is the ride, not questioning whether people are lying to you. He emphasized that standup comedy operates in a similar manner.
