Shocking findings of report into misogyny in the industry

Half of people working in comedy have experienced sexual assault, research has shown.

In a study, 52 per cent of people who chose to answer questions about the subject said they had experienced assault – 29 per cent once, and 23 per cent more than once.

Perpetrators were mainly colleagues or peers they worked with regularly (41 per cent) followed by bookers, promoters or producers.

The Misogyny In Comedy study was conducted by industry body Craft earlier this year and submitted to the UK women and equalities select committee, but has never previously been fully made public.

The survey was open to anyone working in comedy, and it attracted 268 responses, with women outnumbering men three-to-one.

The headline figure comes from a sub-section of 75 people who chose to answer questions about sexual assault.

A separate question put to all respondents about the behaviour of industry colleagues – excluding incidents involving members of the wider public – found 20 per cent of all respondents had been sexually assaulted by someone else in comedy; eight per cent physically assaulted and 32 per cent sexually harassed.

Almost two-thirds of people felt ​women in comedy were dismissed, under pressure to tolerate laddish banter or subjected to other micro aggressions. 

Bookers, promoters and producers were responsible for most cases, followed by colleagues they work with on a casual basis.

It meant 75 per cent of people avoided certain venues, people or opportunities, with a similar number saying the behaviour affected their confidence or self-esteem.

About half the incidents were reported to someone, the rest were not because of fear of losing work, uncertainty about who to complain to, or simply because the complainant preferred to handle the situation themselves.

Two-thirds of respondents felt they were paid less or financially disadvantaged because of their gender.

The report concluded: ‘The headline story is not only that misogyny is widespread. It is that misogyny appears structurally embedded in comedy’s routes to money, stage time, safety and career progression.

‘Respondents link misogyny to underinvestment, male-controlled opportunity access, weak intervention, low income, and measurable personal and professional harm.’

Other findings were:

• 89 per cent say men have greater control over access to higher-paid comedy opportunities,  
• 73 per cent say underinvestment in comedy increases vulnerability to misogyny, harassment, or unsafe working conditions.
• 70.5 per cent say misogyny shapes booking and lineup decisions.
• 67 per cent say misogynistic behaviour is often treated as a normal part of comedy culture.
• Only 20 per cent rate efforts to improve women’s representation in comedy as being implemented well.

The survey respondents suggested there was a need for a mechanism for reporting misbehaviour.

However, Craft says that Parliament recognising the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (Ciisa) as an official  whistleblowing body as of last month ‘has closed that gap’.

The body says that organisations registered with it – at a cost of £100 a year for the smallest outfits – ‘sends a powerful signal that harmful behaviour will not be tolerated’

There is also the comedy-specific Get Off Live Comedy, which acts as an HR department for the stand-up circuit (and of which Chortle is a member).

A 2018 Chortle survey found more than a quarter of female comedians had been molested by their colleagues, and around one in 13 raped by a fellow comic.

Published: 15 Jul 2026