Comedians have lately been raising concerns that audiences have become too sensitive to jokes, alleging that comedy is under threat. George Lopez recently recalled a visit from the Secret Service a few years back over his joke on President Donald Trump.

While speaking on The Big Podcast with Shaq, veteran comedian George Lopez recalled how a few years back reports surfaced on the internet suggesting that Iran had allegedly placed an $80 million bounty on Trump. Adding his signature touch to the report, the comedian reacted to it, stating, “We’ll do it for half.”

The comedian couldn’t gauge the potential trouble, but his publicist was quick to tell him, ‘It’s big. Like, it’s big, and for bad.’ He stated that, much to his surprise, the situation rapidly escalated, with Fox News stressing that people making such jokes should be “arrested” and “put in prison.”

Lopez remembered the outlet warning him of the Secret Service’s visit next week; however, he received a call telling him that the law enforcement agency would be visiting him “early next week.” Soon afterward, as the agents arrived at his home, he remembered his attorney also joined them for the meeting.

The 65-year-old recalled, “They said, ‘We’re here to see if you’re a threat to the leader of the free world.’” He said that the investigators had even carried screenshots of his controversial past comments and social media posts involving Trump. Pointing to one of the exchanges, the agents asked him, “Do you think that’s funny, Mr. Lopez?”

The Lopez Tonight star said his answer dramatically changed once federal agents were sitting across from him as he remembered telling them, “I thought it was funny, but right now I don’t think so.” The veteran comedian stated that the questioning went beyond the initial Instagram post, with agents also bringing up remarks he had made after Trump, during his first presidential campaign, characterized some Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists.

Lopez reacted to the remark with dark humor, insisting that what may be interpreted as a threat in one culture can, in his view, be understood as “more of an estimate,” further adding, “You could find somebody to do it cheaper.” However, his joke left even his lawyer uncomfortable, who urged him not to say anything further.

He remembered the meeting ending with a stern warning, stating, “They told me if they came back, I was looking at 10 years in federal prison.”

Meanwhile, the recent revelation made by Lopez yet again reignited debate around freedom of speech and comedy on the internet. A section of users supported the comedian while many slammed him for his jokes. A user said, “I’m f—– MAGA until I die, but that s–t was funny because there’s that little piece of truth. CALM DOWN EVEYBODY,” another said, “Dude belongs in jail for that comment. The fact he got a slap on the wrist shows rich, famous people are above the law and will never actually be held accountable for anything.”

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