Tig Notaro Was Speaking Out About Sexual Harassment in Comedy Long Before #MeToo

You Know Who Rules? is Broadly's December interview series highlighting women and non-binary people who accomplished incredible things during the dumpster fire of a year that was 2017.

In recent months, Notaro has also been one of the only high profile talents in the comedy industry to speak out against comedy star Louis C.K.’s alleged sexual abuse. Even before the November publication of the New York Times report that substantiated C.K’s alleged sexual misconduct, Notaro criticized the star. In an interview with Vanity Fair in August, Notaro said that C.K. needed to “handle” the allegations, publicly distancing herself from C.K., an executive producer of One Mississippi.

Coincidentally, in the second season of her show, Notaro focuses a plotline on sexual harassment. “When we were writing the second season, I had no idea that our show would air during a time when all of these issues would be coming to a head,” said Notaro.

Broadly spoke to Notaro about her past year’s work and how the recent uptick in public dialogue around sexual abuse has brought her hope.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Looking back at 2017, could you narrow down any work that you’re particularly proud of?

I’m extraordinarily proud of my TV show, One Mississippi, and I’m proud of my new stand-up, which I will be filming for my next comedy special on December 16th.

You have a documentary, book deal, specials, and show. Do you have any advice for someone who is young and wants to one day follow in your footsteps?

You have to be extraordinary passionate about whatever you are doing. I don't want to say you’re willing to do anything, I certainly don’t feel that way. But you have to be very, very devoted and it has to be an utmost priority to work on your skill.

For myself, doing stand up, not even just the first few years, for a long time, I was on stage for five to seven nights a week. There was no part of me that was putting together a schedule of a couple of days a week. For me it was every night, all the time.

But again, you need to find a happy medium.

Now that you’ve found a certain level of success, is there anything you’ve learned along the way that people don’t really tell you beforehand?

I found out that the more success that I’ve gotten—it’s kind of a typical story but it’s unfortunately true, the weirder people can be. You have to watch your back and be careful the more success and money that is involved in things. That’s where you start to, potentially, run into people with not the greatest intentions.

Season two of your show, One Mississippi, deals with sexual harassment. Since then, starting with the Harvey Weinstein story, we’ve seen sexual harassment become a front-and-center issue in society. Has that dialogue brought you hope?

Absolutely. I can’t believe how the conversation is continuing, which is most important. It’s going to leave no room for gaps if everyone is in conversation and in action. That’s what is continuing and that is what is giving me hope.

I had no idea when we were writing the second season that our show would air during a time when all of these issues would be coming to a head. Obviously, there is still a long way to go, but it is beyond unbelievable to me that this is actually happening and continuing to happen, continuing to be taken seriously. I can’t help but have hope. I am always full of hope, this just is pushing that a notch higher.

One Mississippi notably has an all-women writer room. Is that one way we can stop of abuse of power?

Everyone can abuse their power, it’s not a gender issue. But I think that people need to really evaluate who they are hiring, giving deals to, and moving forward. When power and money get in the wrong hands, I’ve seen it, several times in my own career, with people around me. It’s frightening.

But I think it’s a great start to get abusive people, even if it’s beyond sexual abuse. Let’s get the abusive types out of the way and see what is waiting on the other side.

As the holidays and new year approach, what are you looking forward to?

I am staying home for the holidays and I’m very excited because my babies are 17-months-old. They will be a year and a half when Christmas day actually arrives and I’m very excited.