#JFLTORONTO: AN OPEN LETTER FROM SYLVAIN PARENT-BÉDARD, PRESIDENT & CEO OF JUST FOR LAUGHS

An Open Letter from Sylvain Parent-Bédard
President and CEO of Juste pour rire / Just For Laughs

Comedy and freedom of expression

When a comedian is silenced, it’s far more than a voice being muffled. It’s a fundamental right under threat. It’s freedom being gagged. It’s democracy being weakened.

I am Sylvain Parent-Bédard, President and CEO of Juste pour rire / Just For Laughs, a major cultural institution in Québec and Canada, and one of the largest comedy institutions in the world.

I have always stood for a value that is dear to me: freedom of expression. A precious freedom, sometimes unsettling, but absolutely essential. It is the cornerstone of every democratic society. Without it, dialogue fades, thought becomes uniform, and fear takes hold.

What is currently happening in the United States, with the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following overt political pressure, is deeply troubling. It sets a dangerous precedent. An alarm that echoes far beyond American borders.

State censorship, under the direct influence of a political figure, is a disturbing drift. It chills anyone who still believes in democracy. This is no longer about the exchange of ideas. It is ideological repression. And when that repression targets humor, it strikes at one of the last bastions of raw freedom and unfiltered truth.

In response, we are seeing courageous voices rise from the cultural and artistic community; organizations like the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, and many artists, including Jimmy Fallon; standing up to denounce the unacceptable and support Jimmy Kimmel.

And they are right.

This is not a simple dispute between a comedian and those in power. It is a global wake-up call. A warning to all free societies.

In countries where humor is no longer welcome, dictatorships often take root. Laughter is a counter-power. It asks questions. It disturbs. It exposes absurdities, abuses, and flaws. And that is precisely why it is essential. Humor is a high form of freedom. It is the mirror of our societies; sometimes distorted, but always revealing.

Let me say it loud and clear: At Just For Laughs, we will always defend the right to make people laugh. To provoke. To reflect. To shock, at times. To create. To speak the unspeakable. To give voice to what some would rather silence.

I salute Jimmy Kimmel’s courage, and I call on the entire comedy industry, around the world, to stand tall. Now more than ever. Comedians, writers, producers, agents, managers, broadcasters, unions, festivals: let us unite, because humor and laughter often have the power to change the world.

And to all the comedians I have the privilege of working with, admiring, and defending; you carry an immense responsibility, but also an incomparable strength. Keep speaking out. Keep making us laugh. Keep making us think. We stand with you. In solidarity. With resolve. Unshakably.

Moreover, I cannot help but think of comedian Mike Ward, right here in Canada. He fought for nearly a decade; all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada; to defend his right to humor, to provocation, to irreverence. Whether one agrees with the content of his jokes or not is beside the point. What he defended was the fundamental principle that humor must not be censored out of fear of offending or shocking. His victory was not personal; it was a victory for all artists, all creators, and all societies that value their freedom. It drew a clear line: humor is not a crime. It is a necessity.

When laughter is silenced, the light goes out. And a society that loses its humor loses its ability to speak the truth. It loses its humanity.

Freedom of expression is not a luxury. It is not a privilege reserved for those who think like us. It is a universal right. And that right is not up for debate. It must be protected. Proclaimed. Defended. Together. Now.

(Photo credit: Arachpictures)