Comedian Ben Bankas Discusses Backlash and Growth Following Controversy

In a recent chat, comedian Ben Bankas opened up about how attempts to cancel him have surprisingly boosted both his brand and audience. The conversation began with Bankas recalling how his show was canceled in Minnesota, a decision linked to his inclusion of a story about the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026.

“Only one venue canceled, which had a total of six shows lined up. No other venues across the U.S. followed suit,” Bankas noted, highlighting that even in Canada, where sensitivities run high, he faced some backlash.

Nevertheless, Bankas maintained that the overall response has been positive. “I added hundreds of thousands of new followers. Those who were familiar with me really wanted to follow my journey now,” he said. Interestingly, he shared that he ended up with more shows in various markets than the six that were canceled.

“In January 2026, I think I recorded about 121 million views on Facebook and somewhere between 30 to 50 million on Instagram. It’s clear people enjoy what I bring to the stage,” Bankas added.

He went on to discuss a key perspective on the reactions from some Democratic liberals. “Whenever someone expresses an opinion they disagree with, they label it as evil. But comedy is, at its core, a form of art. It’s strange that serious issues like fraud scandals or political pursuits seem acceptable, while humor is seen as problematic for comedy enthusiasts.”

Reflecting on his critics, he commented, “I’ve said this before: those who wish to see me silenced are often envious of the popularity of viewpoints they oppose.”

It was interesting to note the irony during our conversation: efforts to cancel him have, in fact, propelled his popularity exponentially.

“My fan base grew to about 200,000 followers on Instagram alone. It was eye-opening to see how aggressive my detractors can be. They sent some pretty intense messages—death threats, even,” Bankas shared. “But honestly, I’m fine with all that. When you strive to create something, not everyone is going to support you right away.”

At the same time, he noted the positive feedback he received, with many emails urging him to perform in various towns. “That support was fantastic to see,” he added.

Now residing in Texas, Bankas feels that people there really understand his humor. “There’s a shared sense of humor in Texas. Generally speaking, many Americans get what I’m doing. Yet, some view my act as a threat to their beliefs. It’s different saying something in a podcast versus sharing it live on stage, where laughter is the best response. It must be frustrating for those who oppose it to see that people are genuinely enjoying my comedy,” he reflected.

This interview with Ben Bankas only scratches the surface, with more insights to come in part 2.