Insult comedy is a comedy genre in which the act consists mainly of offensive insults, usually directed at the audience or other performers. Typical targets for insult include people in the show's audience, the town hosting the performance, or the subject of a roast. An insult comedian often maintains a competitive and interactive relationship with their audience. The style has been described as "festive abuse". The style can be distinguished from an act based on satire, or political humor. Insult comedy is often used to deflect or silence hecklers even when the rest of the show is not focused on it. Notable performers Fred Allen, especially towards his longtime friend Jack Benny Dave Attell Frankie Boyle Kevin Brennan Roy Chubby Brown Lenny Bruce Bill Burr George Carlin Jimmy Carr Dave Chappelle Louis C.K. Andrew Dice Clay Yucko the Clown Billy Crystal as his fictional character Buddy Young, Jr. Whitney Cummings Greg Davies Rodney Dangerfield Phyllis Diller Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Jeff Dunham's ventriloquist puppets Walter and Peanut Emmanuel Ejekwu (Mr Funny) Vinnie Favorito Redd Foxx Vice Ganda Brad Garrett Otto and George Ricky Gervais Greg Giraldo Jackie Gleason Tom Gleeson Alex Gonzaga Gilbert Gottfried Goundamani, especially towards his comedy partner Senthil Kathy Griffin Neil Hamburger Chelsea Handler Robin Harris Bill Hicks Harry Hill Tony Hinchcliffe Bob Hope D. L. Hughley Jim Jefferies Anthony Jeselnik The Amazing Johnathan Andy Kaufman as his fictional character Tony Clifton Paul Kaye as his fictional character Dennis Pennis Jimmy Kimmel Sam Kinison Lisa Lampanelli Denis Leary Jack E. Leonard Bernie Mac Bill Maher Bernard Manning Marcus Valerius Martialis Groucho Marx Jackie Mason Hasan Minhaj Eddie Murphy Al Murray Trevor Noah Graham Norton Jim Norton Patrice O'Neal Russell Peters Richard Pryor Colin Quinn Don Rickles, widely considered a master of the genre Matt Rife Bianca Del Rio Joan Rivers Chris Rock James Rolfe Jeff Ross Jonathan Ross Rodney Rude Jerry Sadowitz Bob Saget Santhanam Kapil Sharma Sarah Silverman Ed the Sock Doug Stanhope Howard Stern Austen Tayshus Hans Teeuwen Judy Tenuta Daniel Tosh Dustin the Turkey Doug Walker Wendy Williams Milo Yiannopoulos See also Roast (comedy) The dozens References Comedy genres Roast (comedy) Stand-up comedy