George López: "The problems of African Americans are those of Latinos"

Comedian George Lopez, a staunch defender of immigrants and the Latino community, is premiering "We'll Do It For Half" on Netflix, a "stand-up" special that reflects several of the problems the U.S. is facing, such as immigration, racism and police brutality.

"I've been a comedian for many years now and I've always seen that the problems of the African-American community are the problems of Latinos," Lopez responded in a video call with Efe. In his new television show, his first since 2017, Lopez jokes and denounces at the same time several of the prejudices associated with immigration, the working classes and social differences in the United States. 

The title "We'll Do It For Half" also refers to a controversy over a joke about Donald Trump that led him to be investigated by the Secret Service earlier this year. With that message -we'll Do It For Half- the comedian responded to an arrest warrant and death threat against the American president that an Iranian legislator posted on the Internet for $3 million. A word that, he assures, was ironic, and he recalled that many Latinos work precisely for half the money. 

"There are a lot of hard-working immigrants and last year they wanted to get rid of them, now that this pandemic is over, it's magic and suddenly they are essential workers," he said. The comedian gave a new meaning to that expression, which he has turned into a slogan and a denunciation. "Many Latinos are those people who get up early and work hard for little money," he said. "Those who are now cleaning hospitals, picking up food... are the most important. Without them nobody eats, we have to have more respect for people," he asked. 

Born in Los Angeles to a family of Mexican immigrants, López has been one of the most celebrated comedians in the U.S. Latino community for decades; he was named one of the "25 Most Influential Hispanics" in the country by Time magazine in 2005. 

But in recent years, his humor, sometimes controversial and acidic, has led him to star in controversial and disagreements on the Internet. "In these years of social networks, some people are always going to be angry," he confirmed. "You get messages on Instagram, for example, that are horrible. But from users without names, it's anonymous. If those who tell me 'go back to Mexico' had to put their name, address or phone number, they would surely stop," he said. 

Among other anecdotes, López recalled the threats he received because of a joke that now sounds more topical than ever. "Once I was talking about the danger of the streets," he said, "and I said that if they want to take care of them, why don't they take the police and many get angry, like Fox News, who make you the center of their attacks. Now, those comments and many of the jokes that occupy his new Netflix monologue, recorded in December, are once again gaining currency in the heat of the wave of protests that are sweeping the United States, the most important in decades.