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Original poster

AIBU to find the comedian Katherine Ryan's turn to the right surprising?

233 replies

exceptmeandmymonkey · 10/04/2026 10:38

I was raised by a single mum and really liked Katherine Ryan's early standup that mostly focused on being a single mum in crap relationships. Several years ago she hooked up with her childhood sweetheart and had several kids with him, and since then her persona has taken quite a turn.

She defended the manosphere participants in Louis Theroux's recent docs, said that she liked Jordan Peterson, and today on social has featured her partner talking about how the moon landing is a conspiracy. Partner is 'not academic' I'll say politely, and MAGA-adjacent. He doesn't work and is a full time dad yet Katherine does the vast majority of childcare (and all of the earning) whilst he golfs. Clearly she got a lot of negative feedback from her (100% women and gay men) audience on her manosphere comments, because she backtracked a bit.

The situation seems like something she would have laughed at years ago, and it's been strange to see her comedy twist to support this, claiming she's always had provocative views.

I don't see any celebs as heroes so this isn't a 'my hero isn't who I expected' just more of a wow, didn't see this twist coming.

OP posts:
Shedmistress · 11/04/2026 10:31

Trusttheawesome · 11/04/2026 10:05

What? If you’re asking all of that then you have no idea who he is, do you?

He is a conservative and traditionalist. Family values. Traditional values. He thinks women should be in the home raising children, doing the “women’s work,” supporting husbands, not pursuing anything else. You know… quite obvious and doesn’t need explained.

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I know exactly who he is.

None of this stacks up to reality which is why I ask questions when he is slated as the boogie man .

If he thinks women should be in the home, why is his wife allowed to work and why is his daughter the CEO of the family teaching academy?

5128gap · 11/04/2026 10:19

Additup · 10/04/2026 20:45

Yes, I am for real. I'm not talking about random abusive term such as 'loony left, 'gammon' etc. I'm referring to individuals being criticised for their perceived (wrong) voting preferences and ime this criticism does tend to come from the left.

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No, it comes from people who's voting behaviour is linked to their values and ethics. Who see it as more than an in the moment decision based on what they feel best benefits them at any given time, but on how they feel society should be organised, and what will bring the greatest benefit to the most people.
If you vote one way or the other because you believe the party most closely aligns with what you believe is moral, sensible, beneficial to society, then it stands to reason you're going to have some reservations about those who think the opposite and see their beliefs as speaking of character.
People from both sides can feel this way. Hence the right getting very angry with left wing people who don't see an issue with immigration, for example. They see it as deeply problematic and dismiss left wing people who disagree as stupid/naive/conspiring to destroy the country and so forth.

Trusttheawesome · 11/04/2026 10:05

Shedmistress · 11/04/2026 09:46

What do you mean he thinks 'all women should have children'?

You mean forced by rape? Or artificial insemination? What are you talking about? Can you reference this as I've never heard him say this.

Or do you mean for their well being? Or for looking after them in old age? Or something else?

Please explain and evidence before you call something a 'deeply suspect view'.

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What? If you’re asking all of that then you have no idea who he is, do you?

He is a conservative and traditionalist. Family values. Traditional values. He thinks women should be in the home raising children, doing the “women’s work,” supporting husbands, not pursuing anything else. You know… quite obvious and doesn’t need explained.

likelysuspect · 11/04/2026 09:57

Shedmistress · 11/04/2026 09:46

What do you mean he thinks 'all women should have children'?

You mean forced by rape? Or artificial insemination? What are you talking about? Can you reference this as I've never heard him say this.

Or do you mean for their well being? Or for looking after them in old age? Or something else?

Please explain and evidence before you call something a 'deeply suspect view'.

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Does it need much explanation?

He thinks that a womans role in life is to have kids.

Shedmistress · 11/04/2026 09:46

KimberleyClark · 11/04/2026 09:35

Jordan Peterson thinks all women should have children. Deeply suspect view right there.

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What do you mean he thinks 'all women should have children'?

You mean forced by rape? Or artificial insemination? What are you talking about? Can you reference this as I've never heard him say this.

Or do you mean for their well being? Or for looking after them in old age? Or something else?

Please explain and evidence before you call something a 'deeply suspect view'.

Alltheprettyseahorses · 11/04/2026 09:42

She's allowed her own opinions whether you or I or anyone else agrees them or not and you don't get to dictate what she has to think. I genuinely can't stand witch-hunting for wrongthink, it's pathetic and controlling. Maybe she doesn't approve of your opinions - would you change them on her say-so?

KimberleyClark · 11/04/2026 09:35

Shedmistress · 10/04/2026 12:19

OP what is so bad about Jordan Peterson?

Why do you think she has to like all the same things you do in order to be acceptable to you?

Jordan Peterson thinks all women should have children. Deeply suspect view right there.

Original poster
exceptmeandmymonkey · 11/04/2026 09:21

bigwidegreyarea · 10/04/2026 21:11

Katherine has never, at any point, been unkind especially not on her way up though. You obviously can choose not to believe that of course. She clawed her way up in a male dominated industry, her onstage persona reflects that. Joan Rivers was her idol. Comedians all speak very highly of Katherine and she has lots of other (mostly left wing) comics as friends - that is how you know she isn’t a dick. Also the thing with her daughter - she changed to sharing her image when she hit 16, which I assume is because that was an age that her, her daughter and possibly her daughter’s father agreed she could be shown. Remember also that Katherine was a single mother prior to marrying her partner, and was therefore tighter on online safety as a result. Anyway that’s just my bit, I’m not mates with Katherine but have friends that are. I don’t like seeing women taking other women down with little evidence.

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I would say in response that you seem like an acquaintance of hers. Personally, I'd feel quite uncomfortable with my acquaintances or friends sharing views of me on social media, although that's the nature of fame and fame-adjacency.

In terms of literally everything I know about Katherine (her relationship, her views on parenting, details of her spouse's lack of income and lower contribution to childcare, the shifts in the tone/nature of what she shares) all of that comes directly from what she herself has shared on social media or her podcast. I have never met her nor sought out personal information about her outside of what she has shared herself.

My observation that her tone has shifted since her relationship is purely formed by her public statements. I think that's completely fair to remark on with regard to a public figure who has increasingly based her fame around her home life, down to sharing breast pumping photos and images of her kids on the potty.

OP posts:
PollyBell · 11/04/2026 05:47

bigwidegreyarea · 10/04/2026 21:11

Katherine has never, at any point, been unkind especially not on her way up though. You obviously can choose not to believe that of course. She clawed her way up in a male dominated industry, her onstage persona reflects that. Joan Rivers was her idol. Comedians all speak very highly of Katherine and she has lots of other (mostly left wing) comics as friends - that is how you know she isn’t a dick. Also the thing with her daughter - she changed to sharing her image when she hit 16, which I assume is because that was an age that her, her daughter and possibly her daughter’s father agreed she could be shown. Remember also that Katherine was a single mother prior to marrying her partner, and was therefore tighter on online safety as a result. Anyway that’s just my bit, I’m not mates with Katherine but have friends that are. I don’t like seeing women taking other women down with little evidence.

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If you are that close that you know her personally is it appropriate to speak about her with that much detail

ConstantlyFuriosa · 11/04/2026 05:34

blacksax · 10/04/2026 20:46

I have always found her both strangely annoying and desperately unfunny, and cannot imagine having the slightest interest in anything she has to say about any topic.

This. I don’t ‘get’ anything about her.

Shedmistress · 11/04/2026 05:09

cantgardenintherain · 10/04/2026 22:18

He’s an arsehole. I hope she isn’t a fan. I like her.

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How is JP an arsehole?

And why do you 'hope' she doesn't like him?

nomas · 11/04/2026 04:27

Additup · 10/04/2026 21:40

I don't know about only those on the left, but ime in the UK it does tend to be those on the left - eg my Kate Bush example.
I'm happy to be corrected though 🙂

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Yes, the correction is that it happens on both sides.

nomas · 11/04/2026 04:25

bigwidegreyarea · 10/04/2026 21:11

Katherine has never, at any point, been unkind especially not on her way up though. You obviously can choose not to believe that of course. She clawed her way up in a male dominated industry, her onstage persona reflects that. Joan Rivers was her idol. Comedians all speak very highly of Katherine and she has lots of other (mostly left wing) comics as friends - that is how you know she isn’t a dick. Also the thing with her daughter - she changed to sharing her image when she hit 16, which I assume is because that was an age that her, her daughter and possibly her daughter’s father agreed she could be shown. Remember also that Katherine was a single mother prior to marrying her partner, and was therefore tighter on online safety as a result. Anyway that’s just my bit, I’m not mates with Katherine but have friends that are. I don’t like seeing women taking other women down with little evidence.

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Katherine has never, at any point, been unkind especially not on her way up though.

You say you don’t know her so how can you say that? Have you shadowed her entire career?

nomas · 11/04/2026 04:25

bigwidegreyarea · 10/04/2026 21:11

Katherine has never, at any point, been unkind especially not on her way up though. You obviously can choose not to believe that of course. She clawed her way up in a male dominated industry, her onstage persona reflects that. Joan Rivers was her idol. Comedians all speak very highly of Katherine and she has lots of other (mostly left wing) comics as friends - that is how you know she isn’t a dick. Also the thing with her daughter - she changed to sharing her image when she hit 16, which I assume is because that was an age that her, her daughter and possibly her daughter’s father agreed she could be shown. Remember also that Katherine was a single mother prior to marrying her partner, and was therefore tighter on online safety as a result. Anyway that’s just my bit, I’m not mates with Katherine but have friends that are. I don’t like seeing women taking other women down with little evidence.

Show quote history

Katherine has never, at any point, been unkind especially not on her way up though.

You say you don’t know her so how can you say that? Have you shadowed her entire career?

cantgardenintherain · 10/04/2026 22:18

Shedmistress · 10/04/2026 22:01

He is a clinical psychologist.

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He’s an arsehole. I hope she isn’t a fan. I like her.

Denim4ever · 10/04/2026 22:10

For me there has always been something worrying about her harsh and empathy lacking comedy. Now everything about it is. The 2 very shifting things were parading her small kids and teen in front of us and her plastic surgery.

Forthesteps · 10/04/2026 22:10

MyFunSloth · 10/04/2026 10:50

I think we need to get away from a world view where people are expected to be 100% aligned with a particular stance. Human beings are allowed to be complicated, to change their views, maybe even to occasionally say silly things.

Most debates are much more nuanced than black-and-white and maybe it’s refreshing to see people acknowledge that rather than just blindly following the herd.

Those type of views are not remotely 'nuanced'. They are RW batshittery and challenging them has naff all to do with following any herd🙄

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 10/04/2026 22:06

bigwidegreyarea · 10/04/2026 21:11

Katherine has never, at any point, been unkind especially not on her way up though. You obviously can choose not to believe that of course. She clawed her way up in a male dominated industry, her onstage persona reflects that. Joan Rivers was her idol. Comedians all speak very highly of Katherine and she has lots of other (mostly left wing) comics as friends - that is how you know she isn’t a dick. Also the thing with her daughter - she changed to sharing her image when she hit 16, which I assume is because that was an age that her, her daughter and possibly her daughter’s father agreed she could be shown. Remember also that Katherine was a single mother prior to marrying her partner, and was therefore tighter on online safety as a result. Anyway that’s just my bit, I’m not mates with Katherine but have friends that are. I don’t like seeing women taking other women down with little evidence.

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Her other kids are under 5 and they’re plastered everywhere. She actually showed her eldest long before 16 as well - though at least her early childhood was private.

Shedmistress · 10/04/2026 22:01

freedomformeismotherhood · 10/04/2026 20:40

Jordan Peterson

Wasn't he a eugenicist?

(Sp)

He is a clinical psychologist.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 10/04/2026 21:56

I don't care much about her either way, but I couldn't respect someone who documents her life and marriage dynamics on social media. Whatever is going on at home, posting publicly about how much work she does while he pursues a hobby is petty and nasty. If she needs to deal with her relationship that's something to be done on private. There are many wives of successful or famous men who don't do much all day and if men were taking the piss out of them like this there would be a backlash and I would think very little of them. So to avoid double standards I am going to say the same of her.

likelysuspect · 10/04/2026 21:54

She is extremely dry and funny

She did a fantastic documentary about Joan Rivers, brilliant.

IberianLynx · 10/04/2026 21:50

Saw her on the new series of Mock The Week, she hardly said anything and was the weakest panel member by far. Shame that she has lost it.

Additup · 10/04/2026 21:40

nomas · 10/04/2026 21:19

And you think only those on the left do that? Seriously?

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I don't know about only those on the left, but ime in the UK it does tend to be those on the left - eg my Kate Bush example.
I'm happy to be corrected though 🙂

PottingBench · 10/04/2026 21:34

Oh thank God.
I've just read this thread in horror thinking you meant Catherine Tate and thinking I'd got her completely wrong. Phew. As I was.

nomas · 10/04/2026 21:19

Additup · 10/04/2026 20:45

Yes, I am for real. I'm not talking about random abusive term such as 'loony left, 'gammon' etc. I'm referring to individuals being criticised for their perceived (wrong) voting preferences and ime this criticism does tend to come from the left.

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And you think only those on the left do that? Seriously?