Hasan Minhaj addresses fact-checking controversy in new Netflix special

In his latest Netflix special Off With His Head, comedian Hasan Minhaj humorously addressed the fact-checking controversy that emerged after The New Yorker reported that some of his past stand-up stories were embellished. Minhaj referenced the backlash directly, joking that he now has to be “factually accurate” in his performances.

“I don’t own a white BMW 3 Series. I lease a 2023 Kia Carnival,” Minhaj quipped, referencing a punchline about a car before adding, “I have to do this now” following the criticism. He acknowledged the controversy, stating, “I don’t know if you saw this last year — The New Yorker fact-checked my stand-up comedy... and now I have a controversies tab on my Wikipedia.”

In September 2023, The New Yorker reported that Minhaj had fabricated some stories in his previous specials, including a dramatic narrative about receiving an envelope of white powder, which he feared was anthrax, and accidentally spilling it on his daughter. Minhaj later revealed to the publication that while he did receive the envelope, his daughter was never exposed to the substance and was not hospitalized.

Minhaj’s comments in the special reflect his position on the matter. “All my stand-up stories are based on events that happened to me… I use hyperbole, changing names, and compressing timelines to tell entertaining stories,” he told Variety in a previous statement.