“’I’m desperate,’ Amy Schumer admitted, but it was too little, too late.”
Once considered one of the most successful and empowering women in comedy, Amy Schumer’s career has taken a nosedive, with her once-loyal fanbase turning against her.

From headlining Hollywood comedies to being accused of hypocrisy, stealing jokes, and perpetuating harmful narratives, her journey is a tragic tale of a woman who couldn’t quite handle the fame she fought so hard to achieve.

Let’s explore how Amy’s comedic empire came crashing down and what went wrong.

From Rising Star to Controversial Figure: Amy Schumer’s Career Beginnings
Amy Schumer’s early days were marked by a mix of determination and grit.

Starting out as a theater actor, she transitioned into stand-up comedy in 2004, carving out a spot on New York’s competitive comedy circuit.

But her real break came in 2007 when she reached the finals of Last Comic Standing, giving her the exposure that would eventually launch her career.

Despite finishing fourth, her quick wit and confident delivery earned her national attention, leading to more opportunities on platforms like Comedy Central.

Her big breakthrough came in 2011 when she appeared on the Comedy Central roast of Charlie Sheen.

Despite being relatively unknown at the time, her fearless and unapologetic set stole the show.

This performance garnered her massive attention, and the video went viral, solidifying her spot as one of the hottest names in comedy.

From there, Schumer went on to release her stand-up album, land her own TV show Inside Amy Schumer, and become a mainstream star.

The Rise to Fame: Amy’s Meteoric Success
By 2015, Schumer was at the peak of her career.

Her breakout role in Trainwreck, where she starred and wrote the script, catapulted her to Hollywood stardom.

The film was a box office hit, earning over $140 million worldwide, and Schumer was hailed as the highest-paid female comedian in the world.

Her comedic style, which boldly tackled taboo subjects like gender roles, body image, and sєxism, made her a feminist icon.

Schumer seemed unstoppable, and the public adored her.

But despite all the success, cracks began to show in her public image, ones that would later grow into a full-scale scandal.

The Controversies Begin: Racism and Hypocrisy Exposed
As Schumer’s fame grew, so did scrutiny over her actions and remarks.

In 2016, The Guardian published an article that highlighted several problematic aspects of her comedy.

The article pointed out Schumer’s use of racist humor, such as calling Latina women “crazy” and generalizing Latino men as sєx offenders.

This stark contradiction to the progressive feminist image she had cultivated didn’t sit well with many of her fans.

Rather than acknowledge the criticism, Schumer brushed it off in a tweet, defending her right to make such jokes and claiming it was all in the name of comedy.

“I am a comic. I enjoy playing the girl who says the dumbest thing possible,” Schumer said in her defense, dismissing accusations of racism as misinterpretations.

Unfortunately for her, this response only added fuel to the fire, and many fans began to question her integrity.

The Joke-Stealing Scandal: A Career-Shattering Blow
In January 2016, Schumer found herself at the center of yet another scandal, this time involving accusations of joke theft.

Comedian Wendy Leeman accused Schumer of stealing one of her jokes during an HBO special.

This allegation was followed by accusations from comedian Kathleen Madigan, and soon a viral video compilation began circulating online, showcasing several examples of Schumer seemingly using material from other comedians.

Schumer, of course, denied the accusations during an appearance on the Jim Norton show.

“I would never ever do that,” she claimed.

She even suggested that the comedians accusing her were simply jealous of her success.

This defensive response only intensified the backlash, as many felt she wasn’t taking responsibility for her actions.

Fans and fellow comedians alike criticized her refusal to own up to her mistakes, and it began to tarnish her image as a “comedic feminist hero.”

Hypocrisy and Backlash: Her Image Begins to Crumble

The deeper Amy’s career went into controversy, the more her public persona as a feminist and progressive icon began to crack.

From the accusations of stealing material from other women comedians to the tone-deaf comments about body image and beauty standards, Schumer’s hypocrisy became impossible to ignore.

One of the most glaring contradictions came when Schumer was included in Glamour magazine’s plus-size issue alongside women like Ashley Graham and Adele.

While the issue was meant to celebrate body diversity, Schumer expressed discomfort at being labeled “plus-size,” despite wearing a size six or eight.

“It doesn’t feel right,” she tweeted, suggesting that being associated with the term might negatively impact young girls.

Critics quickly pointed out the inconsistency in her stance, as she had been an advocate for body positivity but now seemed uncomfortable with being grouped into that category.

The Fall: Political Rants and Netflix Flops
Schumer’s troubles weren’t just confined to jokes and controversies; her political rants alienated many fans as well.

During a 2016 performance in Tampa, Florida, Schumer took aim at a Trump supporter in the audience, mocking him for his political views.

Her audience didn’t respond well, with over 200 people walking out of the show.

Instead of trying to connect with the audience, Schumer doubled down, launching into a political rant that only made things worse.

This pattern of alienating her audience continued with the release of her Netflix special The Leather Special.

Despite the hype surrounding it, the special was a critical flop, receiving thousands of one-star reviews on IMDb.

Schumer blamed the backlash on “alt-right trolls,” rather than acknowledging that the special simply wasn’t well-received.

This response only made her appear more out of touch with her audience.

The Final Straw: The “I Feel Pretty” Debacle
Schumer’s attempt at a comeback in the form of I Feel Pretty in 2018 was met with a similar reception.

The film, intended to empower women by exploring self-esteem and body image, was criticized for its misguided messaging.

Many felt that the idea of a woman needing a blow to the head to feel confident in her body was not empowering, but rather reinforcing harmful beauty standards.

Critics quickly labeled it one of the worst films of the year.

When asked about the backlash, Schumer once again avoided accountability, suggesting that people had projected their own feelings onto the movie without understanding its true message.

The film’s failure was another blow to Schumer’s reputation, further proving that her inability to accept criticism was costing her career.