Venezuelan comedian Estefanía León and others in exile are turning to comedy as a means of resilience, even amidst chaos and despair.
Laughter Amid Turmoil: How Venezuelan Comedians Use Humor as Resistance
Laughter Amid Turmoil: How Venezuelan Comedians Use Humor as Resistance
Venezuelan comedians who fled political oppression are discovering joy in humor as they cope with hardships.
In the midst of Venezuela's severe economic crisis in 2017, Estefanía León, a young comedian, faced a personal conflict—how to continue crafting jokes while her country suffered. Living in Caracas, people were queuing for food, facing hyperinflation, and battling dwindling resources. León’s father suffered from illness, and despite working seven days a week, she struggled to cover his medical costs. As a writer for the popular political satire site, El Chigüire Bipolar, León found herself dodging tear gas en route to work. The oppressive regime of President Nicolás Maduro put many types of speech at risk, pushing León to worry that her comedic critiques might lead to imprisonment. Despite the adversity, comedy served as her tool for political and social commentary. León expressed that laughter seemed impossible as her nation grappled with hunger, poverty, dictatorship, and pervasive fear.
