Andrew Santino Talks Censorship Battle with Disney over Hulu Special

Comedian Andrew Santino has opened up about his struggles with Disney regarding censorship in his upcoming Hulu stand-up special. In a recent discussion, he mentioned feeling like he was at “war” with the company over the content adjustments.

“They definitely changed the joke,” Santino explained. It seems he wasn’t thrilled about these changes, noting that they initiated quite a bit of tension. He reflected on how the special, titled “White Noise,” faced scrutiny from Disney executives after its preview, particularly over a joke about an adult Disney superfan who often visits theme parks without kids.

While Santino believes the content wasn’t overly controversial, he indicated that executives thought it clashed with Disney’s brand image. “My argument was that I was joking about many other things in the controversial special,” he said, “but they didn’t seem to see it that way.” In the end, Santino reported that he received pressure to significantly tone down the humor, stating, “If you want it here, this is how we want it. Otherwise we can’t air anything special.” It sounds like both parties eventually reached a compromise.

Santino expressed disappointment over the necessity to make these concessions, calling the situation out of touch with reality. “Honestly, it’s frustrating,” he remarked. “People just want to be genuine. When shows shy away from real talk, it ends up feeling less authentic.” He conveyed a sense of disconnect from a world where jokes—especially those poking fun at adults who enjoy Disney—are limited.

The whole scenario has highlighted a trend where comedians are moving towards podcasts and independent platforms instead of relying on traditional media. Santino captured this sentiment well, stating, “We’re done with being told what we can or can’t say.” As for Disney, they hadn’t responded immediately to requests for comments on the matter.