Comedian Hari Kondabolu of The Problem With Apu doesn’t understand why the Devil even needs an advocate. Surely the DEVIL is fine without your help? In a stand-up appearance on Conan, the comedian has some jokes about his family, Belgium chocolate, and people who like to play said role.
The jokes will sound familiar if you’ve seen his Netflix special Warn Your Relatives, which arrived on the streaming service last month. If you haven’t, give this clip a watch and then watch Warn Your Relatives.
“Why do people have to play Devil’s advocate?” asks Kondabolu, “It’s basically a phrase you can hide behind to say whatever contrarian nonsense you want to say while pretending you’re being objective when you’re generally just being a dick. More importantly, WHY DOES THE DEVIL NEED AN ADVOCATE? HE IS THE DEVIL. Why does the Prince of Darkness need your help exactly? What are you telling me is happening here?
“Is it like, ‘Hey Steve. It’s me, the Devil. And I need your help right now. See that woman over there that’s saying men and women should be paid equally in the workforce? When I want you to tell her, ON MY BEHALF…’ That’s not what’s happening here.”
“Also, why does the Devil want you to make a contrarian argument?” asks Kondabolu, who suggests the Devil tends to get more out of getting you to sell your soul than telling you you’re wrong. So, the next time you’re thinking about using “Devil’s Advocate” as a means to say something unproductive or detracting? Maybe don’t.
The best Devil’s Advocate, as we’ve seen, is work The Satanic Temple does fighting for women and combatting discrimination.
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