Hasan Minhaj at the Polite Society New York screening on April 24, 2023.Photo:Roy Rochlin/Getty

Roy Rochlin/Getty

Hasan Minhajis answering the question he’s been met with recently: “are you a liar?”

The comedian shareda 20-minute response videoto the viral SeptemberNew Yorker profilethat claimed Minhaj, 38, fabricates many of his jokes. Though thePatriot Actleadpreviously issued a statementsaying “all my standup stories are based on events that happened to me,” he explored the “needlessly misleading” article in-depth withThe Hollywood Reporter.

Hasan Minhaj at the No Hard Feelings premiere in June 20, 2023.Michael Loccisano/WireImage

Michael Loccisano/WireImage

“With everything that’s happening in the world, I’m aware even talking about this now feels so trivial,” Minhaj said in the clip. “But being accused of ‘faking racism’ is not trivial. It’s very serious, and it demands an explanation.”

He continued, “To everyone who read that article, I want to answer the biggest question that’s probably on your mind: Is Hasan Minhaj secretly a psycho? Underneath all that pomp, is Hasan Minhaj just a con artist who uses fake racism and Islamophobia to advance his career? Because after reading that article, I would also think that.”

He addressed the “psycho” accusations head-on. “The reason I feel horrible is because I’m not a psycho. But thisNew Yorkerarticle definitely made me look like one.It was so needlessly misleading, not just about my stand-up, but also about me as a person. The truth is, racism, FBI surveillance and the threats to my family happened. And I said this on the record.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Minhaj ended his video with a joke. “The guy in this article is a proper f—ing psycho, but I now hope you feel like the real me is not,” he said. “I’m just a guy with IBS and low sperm motility. Again, there is much more important news happening in the world right now that needs your attention. So I appreciate you watching, I take the note and I hope to see you at the next show.”

PEOPLE reached out to Minhaj for further comment.

source: people.com