Australian comic Jim Jefferies mostly jokes about himself in the Netflix special Intolerant, but he also makes sure to provide a scathing commentary on millennials and cancel culture. For the most part, the stand-up comedy special is purely unique and offers the appropriate context for Jefferies' worldview, but one particular segment is yet another predictable chapter in the story of comedians lashing out at critics.
On the surface, the title of Jefferies' Netflix special seems to align with other comedians who use show titles to address criticism. For example, the streaming service released Joe Rogan's Triggered in 2016 and Bill Burr's Walk Your Way Out in 2017 - the list goes on and on. In 2019, Aziz Ansari apologized for past behavior in Right Now, and Dave Chappelle took an unapologetic approach with Sticks & Stones. In 2020, Chris D'Elia and Marc Maron have similarly addressed backlash via Netflix specials, with the former being more upfront and the latter being more aloof. Over the years, Jefferies has been consistent with his on-stage demeanor, and Intolerant is indeed full of profanity-laced commentaries, with the title itself being a double-edged sword that references both cancel culture and jokes about being lactose intolerant.
Jefferies opens Intolerant with self-deprecating humor, and then discusses how his father transformed from a bigot into a supporter of gay rights. He later recalls experiences at a French restaurant, a bit that becomes a recurring storyline, but with various side commentaries that boost the act's overall structure. Early on, Jefferies links the evolution of his 78-year-old father's outlook on life to millennials who don't appreciate the long-term process of changing one's worldview. Specifically, Jefferies recalls a moment when his father once spoke backstage about appreciating "the gays" but was then quickly criticized for apparently being transphobic. "This guy just got used to gay people YESTERDAY," Jefferies says, "let him have his f**king victory lap."
Jefferies then clarifies his issue with "progressive" and "woke" millennials, stating "let old people be f**king old." To him, what's important about people like his father is that they're trying, and they can't instantly change their perspective to make the "younger generation" happy. Jefferies then takes a more direct approach and trolls millennials by saying, "You're the worst people who ever lived." He also discusses modern society's reliance on social media and the need to immediately share comments or photos with the world. Jefferies then jokes that millennials will one day be the "old bigots," and that every new generation is typically the "most progressive."
In the second half of Intolerant, Jefferies addresses "cancel culture" and how comedians are suddenly "public enemy number one." Overall, he hits the main talking points that comedians usually cover when defending their material but does add something new to the conversation with a sharp societal observation. Jefferies points out that he's now being criticized for jokes that were made 10 years ago, but reminds the audience that there was a clear "line" that he and his peers tried not to cross. "Our job is to go right up to the line," Jefferies says, and compares the craft of stand-up comedy to gambling. To further reinforce his point in the Netflix special, Jefferies states that he won't tell certain jokes anymore because they're not "socially acceptable," but also notes that it's important to acknowledge and understand the cultural context of past stand-up shows.