NEW YORK, NY – For the first time in history, a stand-up comic is being sued over mother-in-law jokes!
Sunda Croonquist is a New York comic who is half African-American and half Swedish. She has taken her routine to numerous appearances on Comedy Central, which may have been the last straw for Ruth Zafrin, Sunda’s mother-in-law.
Sunda has repeatedly done jokes in her stand-up referring to how much she dislikes Ruth, and how Ruth has made racist remarks towards her. Referring to the first time they met, Sunda explained: “I say, ‘Thank you so much for having me here, Ruthie.’ She says, ‘The pleasure’s all mine, have a seat.’ Then, in a loud aside, ‘Harriet, put my pocketbook away.’ ”
Ruth has also been joined in the suit by her daughter, Shelley, and son-in-law, Neil Edelman. This is probably due to Sunda’s description of the first time she met Shelley as well: “She said, ‘Oh, my God, Neil, look at her; she’s got light eyes and light hair; what kind of black person is she?'”
Below is a clip from Sunda’s stand-up, which includes the jokes Ruth has objected to:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcgcpIXP02Y]
Sunda has agreed to drop the routine, but will not pay the requested settlement. Sunda said her in-laws used to laugh along. “They played my tape at Passover one year, and they loved it!” Her husband has not commented in the situation, as his law firm is representing Sunda.
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