Howie Mandel boasted that cancel culture was over and comedian should not fear joking freely about all subjects — shortly before he apologized over his Kelly Ripa comments.
“I don’t think anything is off limits,” Mandel exclusively told Page Six at a showcase for the next wave of comedic talent on “America’s Got Talent” at the world-famous Laugh Factory in Hollywood on February 2.
Mandel added, “I don’t think nothing is not funny. I don’t think there’s such a thing as too soon.”
The 70-year-old TV star noted that while “comedy took a hit in the last decade” because of cancel culture, he thinks “the pendulum has swung back.”
“You know, some of the edgiest comics are selling out arenas (on) multi-nights,” he said. “Some of the biggest comics are incredibly edgy.”
“But comedy now is bigger than it has ever been. And I think the reason it is bigger than it has ever been is because they say that laughter is the best medicine, and I think we need more medicine now than we have ever needed on this globe.”
Mandel expressed his hope that with comedy booming again, a comic could finally take home the $1M prize in this summer’s “AGT” for the time in the 21 years of the NBC smash show.
He understands that edgy or blue comedy, which is thriving, could not be aired on the show because its family-orientated air time.
“I just believe in responsible broadcasting,” he stated. “So, you know, ‘AGT’ happens to be a network show which is supported by advertisers and they have a right to sell their product in a lane that they believe their audience is.”
He continued, “So I’m responsible enough not to go there or we’re responsible enough not to allow comics or anybody on that stage to go where they shouldn’t go that wouldn’t be supported by the people who support the show.”
Mandel’s statements came before he faced negative reactions over his interactions on “Live with Kelly and Mark” on March 23.
He pushed back on the hosts’ compliments about his youthful appearance with some feisty lines, which prompted social media backlash.
Mandel apologized to Ripa, 55, and Consuelos, 55, on Instagram — but then admitted he was unsure if saying sorry was the right move.
“I don’t believe in apologizing but as I said in that post, which I kind of regret making, obviously I told a joke that didn’t land well,” Mandel said on Tuesday’s “Hot Mics with Billy Bush” of the encounter.
“Comedians always say, ‘If you can make one person laugh, you’re doing the job, but apparently that’s not enough. It’s not enough.”
He added, “So you liked my joke. I’m reading and there’s no stopping it and I don’t understand and I tried to stop it. I tried to apologize. I agreed with people. I do.”
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