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

[exceptmeandmymonkey]

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.

Having never heard Ryan or Tate, I cannot comment. But - everyone makes some good points right?

She's not remotely right wing!

She's famous for jumping on every far left bandwagon - she once did a video talking about trans rights against the far right

I couldn’t agree with this more. I personally don’t have to be completely aligned with someone to like them. I find this approach baffling.

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?

Her husband refers to himself as a conspiracy theorist. He believes Hillary Clinton herself was sex trafficking babies and children through the basement of a pizza restaurant.

I have no idea who the man is, but do conspiracy theorists ever actually refer to themselves as "conspiracy theorists"? To me, that suggests he may be saying this stuff for publicity.

She’s a comedian/celebrity nothing she says should be taken seriously.

People making these comments about Andrew T or other manosphere "personalities" don't understand something very basic about extremism which is that they always pad out their total bigotry with reasonable plausible points which most people would agree with. It's deliberate and helps them gain followers and be more palatable to a wider audience. It doesn't mean their main arguments are any less abhorrent. You could think of it like how abusive men are often charming and have good points early on before they start exposing their hatred and violence, no-one would ever get into a relationship with them in the first place if they led with the horrendous behaviour.
Re. KR and childcare. I think Bobby does a lot, it's not fair to say that she does the vast majority although I'm sure she does far more than your average male comedian with a stay at home partner.

I've never really 'got' her tbh, and something about her persona doesn't sit quite right with me. I can't really explain it beyond it feels like she finds validation comforting, while simultaneously rejecting the notion of validation. She's very contradictory, and that's often something that, over time, takes its toll. I look at her and think she's always a stone's throw from some kind of breakdown, and actually quite vulnerable underneath it all. She clearly cares deeply about her appearance, and why shouldn't she I suppose. But it's almost like her whole self worth is wrapped up in how others see her, so she overcompensates with fake and showy examples of 'strength'. Men like those found in the manosphere are very attracted to women who are like her.

I have to think, so what? As much as I am left leaning myself, people are allowed differing views to you. I really think the biggest harm to politics in recent years has been the deep division, people defining their whole personality on whether they are left or right. Life isn’t that simple, you can still be a good person and not be liberal. Heaven forbid, you can even have a range opinions that sit across the spectrum and even change your mind.

I've explained that upthread, but happy to repeat - I thought the OP was saying, using the literal meaning of the words, that she did the vast majority of the childcare whilst he golfs. I.e. during the time that he golfs.

I see now that perhaps it wasn't meant as it was phrased.

It's not a particularly important point, so perhaps I shouldn't have asked for clarification, but I was trying to understand the context.

Right or left, shes always dick pandering

I’ve never liked her so I’m not surprised. As a PP said, it was all the Hooters stuff - she wanted to be ‘pretty’ and a Hooters girl.
Her DH sounds like a complete knob.

I've got a friend who got together with the man formerly considered the hottest boy at their school. I didn't know them then, so haven't got that memory of him at his finest, and he just seems like an ordinary, balding, quite dull bloke to me. She clearly still sees him as the catch who she's incredibly lucky to be dating - even though he's got a crap job, she brings in all the cash, he's never fully committed to the relationship despite them having three kids, and he doesn't do any childcare either. They remind me of Katherine Ryan and her husband. Maybe the scales will fall from her eyes at some point!

I think it's all just for shits and giggles. Saying provocative things to get attention as she needs to stay present in the public view. And maybe Bobby who I think is a beaut plays to the image of a bimbo house husband/ kept man. She says some pretty low things about him . Their teenage life sounds typical of small town stuff. And his ex wife never mentions anything. Somehow I think despite her wealth , she got the better deal. Who else would put up with her shit .

what is so bad about Jordan Peterson?

🤣🤣🤣 Bless your dear heart.

Yes, this "She’s basically still her 16 year old self around him, still views him the way she did, trying to make sure he doesn’t dump her again like he did back then. He may have been at catch at high school Katherine but he sure isn’t now!"
I get the impression her husband is quite a problem and drags her down.

And having a face lift with an 8 week old baby makes my skin crawl. It is a very good face lift though.

Agree. The way she used to talk about her daughter Violet was lovely. Then she got (back) with that bloke and talked about the new dynamic in their household, with him throwing his weight around with her daughter yet contributing absolutely fuck all. I felt so sorry for Violet, it must have been such a shock to suddenly have to deal with living with him whilst entering adolescence. KR always showed internalised misogyny but it really accelerated from that point on.

I actually have a little skin in the comedy game, so have name changed and here’s my twopenneth, for what it’s worth.

There’s Katherine Ryan at home and there’s Katherine Ryan when she’s working. When she’s working she dials everything up, because that’s how you grab and keep attention, which is what ultimately pays her bills. She actually has quite balanced debates with her guests on her podcast but you’re not going to get the full breadth of that in the short snippets they upload to social media to promote it.

You can substitute Katherine in that above scenario with any other comedian who is spread across various platforms. They’re at work. Then the microphones get switched off and they’re just people. You’ve mentioned a few names here and some I know to be reasonable people and a few that you have sainted are complete dicks. Katherine isn’t one of the dicks. People don’t like her because she refuses to be apologetic about her life choices, for example her cosmetic surgery. Why should she? She doesn’t owe anybody anything, people are capable of avoiding her work if they want to.

Absolutely this. I remember the ridiculous furore in some quarters when Kate Bush said in an interview that she liked/voted for Theresa May
😂
Annoyingly this sort of criticism always seems to come from the left as well.

I don't care if an entertainer votes left or right I care about if they are good at what they do. Unless they are extremist nutters of either ilk then I will judge them. Same for friends, family, colleagues, partners etc. The whole 'never kissed a Tory' thing is just embarrassing. Also, how would you know unless you watch them vote?

Ps. I don't find Katherine Ryan particularly funny irrespective of how she votes/supports.

Well, stand up comedy isn't a career path that's renowned for attracting well-balanced individuals who have healthy relationships and make good choices in their personal lives.

Obviously there are exceptions. But I don't think she's one of them.

So she's gone from being Frankie Boyle adjacent to MAGA adjacent. They do say the political spectrum is shaped like a horse-shoe. She seems to just like misogynists of all colours.

It's shocking. Doesn't she realise that no-one in today's culture is allowed to hold a single traditionally right-wing view or opinion on anything?

Ok, thats helpful.

i think we also need to be aware that there is a class of celebrities that aren’t actually that interesting but keep themselves in the headlines and public eye by saying ragebait

I agree with this.

I remember watching a documentary type programme about her a little while ago. I want to say it was Louis Theroux doing the interviewing (but it can't have been) and I can't think who it was. Was it another comedian maybe? Not sure.

Anyway at the time what she was saying about her husband and so on seemed quite sweet, childhood sweethearts.

But as time has gone on it seems like they're stuck in high school together mentally and intellectually. I think she's dumbed herself down to match her guy.

She's very open about her cosmetic procedures and that also makes me question their relationship a bit. Like she's desperate to hang onto him.