Left to right: Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Abbi Jacobson, Sam Jay, Alison Moore at Esther’s Follies at their SXSW session “Funny Thing About Breaking Up the Boys Club” on March 11, 2023. Credit: Wendy Goodman

By Wendy Goodman

On March 11, Jewish comedian, writer and actress Abbi Jacobson sat down with “Bust Down” co-creator and star Sam Jay for a SXSW talk about the challenges of breaking barriers in the comedy industry and the importance of dismantling the boys club mentality, moderated by Alison Moore of Comic Relief US.

Jacobson is best known for her work on the TV series Broad City and recently as co-creator and star of “A League of Their Own.” The talk, titled “Funny Thing About Breaking Up the Boys Club,” began with a conversation about how depicting personal experiences in art builds connections with people. “When I was doing Broad City, it was so much about our experiences being alive, being in New York, being a woman, being Jewish, trying to have fun, friendship… I think I learned through that, and the specificity of my experience is all I have,” said Jacobson.

Jay agreed, “The responsibility, I think, is authenticity, to show up to these spaces being your authentic self even if it’s uncomfortable, even if it makes people uncomfortable. Tell your authentic stories.” Jay stressed the importance of redefining norms, embracing diverse perspectives and challenging preconceived notions. “If you are a woman or a man being ostracized by society in any way, it is your job to disrupt whatever is going on in that space,” said Jay.

Jacobson emphasized the significance of addressing systemic issues by drawing on her personal journey saying, “When someone says, ‘I saw myself in this story or in this character, and I feel better and less weird for being who I am,’ that’s my goal.”

The conversation concluded with sharp comedic insights underscoring the importance of breaking barriers, promoting inclusivity and diverse voices. “I believe in the power of storytelling in changing how people look at themselves and at the rest of the experiences. I think that really can be impactful,” said Jacobson.  The session opened with a comedic performance by Joyelle Nicole Johnson who earned laughs and cheers from the audience.