Netflix and Major Streaming Platforms Drop ‘Are You Garbage?’ Podcast Over “Class-Insensitivity” Backlash
April 8, 2025 — New York, NY
Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify have quietly removed episodes and clips of the hit comedy podcast Are You Garbage?, citing concerns over “class-insensitive humor” and a violation of updated content guidelines regarding socio-economic stereotypes.
The move follows mounting pressure from advocacy groups and social media campaigns that criticized the show’s comedic premise — in which hosts H. Foley and Kevin Ryan ask guests questions to determine if they’re “classy” or “garbage” — as “punching down” and reinforcing negative tropes about working-class and lower-income Americans.
In a joint statement, several streaming services said:
> “We remain committed to providing content that is inclusive and respectful. After a routine content review, we have removed select titles that do not meet our evolving standards around class representation and dignity.”
Though Are You Garbage? has built a loyal fanbase — often praised for its authenticity, nostalgia, and self-deprecating humor — critics argue that some episodes crossed the line into mockery. A viral clip from a 2023 episode, where a guest described a childhood involving food stamps and was met with laughter, reignited debate around how poverty is portrayed in entertainment.
The hosts responded in a Patreon-only video, calling the decision “disappointing but not surprising.”
> “We built this show out of love for the blue-collar world we came from,” said Kevin Ryan. “If you think we’re making fun of poor people, you’ve missed the whole point.”
The show is still available on YouTube and directly through Patreon, where it continues to attract over 15,000 paying subscribers.
Whether this signals a broader crackdown on edgier, class-based comedy remains to be seen. In the meantime, Are You Garbage? fans are rallying under the hashtag #LetThemCook, with some calling the ban an overreach and a misunderstanding of comedic nuance.
