“It’s a bit of a wild west out here”

Award-winning comedy actor and writer Paul Longley has achieved something few comedians can claim: his jokes don’t just go viral, they stick. But their inevitable success has a downside.

The beloved British comedian’s unique style of humor is so popular and so funny that his wildly popular sketches are often stolen time and time again on social media, with Chancellors trying to rip his words off, their ideas and their concepts.

Still, in an increasingly saturated landscape, it’s clear who is the original.

“It’s an opportunity for everyone on the comedy circuit. It’s important that casting directors and writers know who was really behind these incredibly funny videos,” a Hollywood industry source exclusively said. in contact.

In one of his most praised and viral sketches, Longley shows how a man can go out of his way to appear non-threatening when women walk by. He published it in 2023, and a year later, the “social vultures” are still ripping off his pimple without crediting it.

It’s just one of many examples of Longley’s comedy inspiring a trend, and after an avalanche of followers coming forward to express their anger at copycats, he recently decided to repost his original video.

Speaking exclusively to in contactLongley said: “I’m not the only person this has ever happened to. Far from it. I know a lot of incredibly talented online comedy acts who have been victims of their work being copied. It’s usually the same. Bigger accounts take from smaller ones and their reach blows the original out of the water. It’s a bit of a wild west out here. Traditionally, if someone was stealing the material. someone else, there would be a strong negative reaction.”

However, despite copycat versions also finding viral success, a love rage for Longley’s original seems to be turning the tide.

“What really surprised me was the reaction my followers had to seeing others copy this video. I thought of it as a sketch of what I was proud people were enjoying 18 months ago, but probably already I would have forgotten,” he said.

“What I didn’t expect was what it meant to so many people,” Longley continued. “I had messages from people telling me that they watch this every week or when they need encouragement or that they quote it with their husband or sister every day. It was amazing to read. The common thread was because of the message it carried, it resonated much more with people.