Vittorio Angelone Challenges Comedians on Disinfo Board
Comedian Vittorio Angelone urges peers to denounce the DHS Disinformation Governance Board
Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a content writer, covering parenting and films. She writes for Hollywoodjunction and Momjunction. Her interest in journaling and writing made this biotechnology postgraduate to take up content as her full-time profession.
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Italian stand-up comic Vittorio Angelone turned his Instagram feed into a political soapbox this week, calling on his fellow “Free Speech” comedians to weigh in on Washington’s latest move. In a post accompanied by a stark screenshot, Angelone simply wrote, “Excited for all the Free Speech comedians to speak out against this 🤘,” tagging his account @vittorioangelone and letting the message speak for itself.
Angelone’s Social Media Challenge
Angelone’s post went live hours after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the formation of a Disinformation Governance Board, a body tasked with advising on how to combat online misinformation. The announcement prompted immediate criticism from civil liberties groups, who warn the board could chill free expression under the guise of “national security.”
“Comedians have always been on the front lines of free speech,” Angelone told followers in a subsequent Instagram Story. “This isn’t just about politics—it’s about protecting the art form that thrives on pushing boundaries.” His original post has already attracted hundreds of comments from fans and fellow comics, split between those who applaud the call to action and others who say the board may be a necessary check on harmful propaganda.
Background On The Dhs Disinformation Governance Board
The Disinformation Governance Board was unveiled by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on June 28, aiming to create a centralized hub to advise on disinformation threats from foreign and domestic actors. According to DHS briefing materials, the board will include experts in technology, civil rights, and communications. Critics argue it duplicates other federal efforts and risks turning information policing into political theater.
The announcement followed months of high-profile debates over content moderation on social media platforms. Tech giants like Meta and Twitter have been under pressure from lawmakers to curb misleading posts about elections, public health, and global conflicts. Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, have cautioned that government oversight in this space needs rigid safeguards to prevent abuse.
Angelone’s Comedy Career And Activism
Angelone, who rose to prominence on the European festival circuit, has built a reputation as a globe-trotting provocateur. Earlier this spring, he celebrated selling out multiple dates at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival—so much so that he added extra shows on June 8 and 22 after tickets were “going like hot cakes” in a May Instagram post (instagram.com/p/DJtuLUzo73n/).
The Milan-born performer has since expanded his reach with a regularly updated podcast and guest appearances on U.S. late-night shows. He often weaves political satire into his sets, earning both laughs and occasional backlash. In January, he posted a tongue-in-cheek thank-you to @nbaeurope after scoring new sneakers for playoff season, joking “Hoop dreams never die 🙏🏻.”
Now, with the media spotlight back on content regulation, Angelone seems determined to rally his peers. “If we stay silent, we give up the one tool comedians have: truth wrapped in a punch line,” he said. No names have publicly responded yet, but Angelone’s call clearly puts pressure on big voices in comedy to break their silence.
As debates over misinformation intensify and the line between free speech and harmful content blurs, entertainers like Angelone are staking out a role beyond the stage. Whether his Instagram challenge will spark a chorus of condemnation—or get drowned out in the online noise—remains to be seen. For now, the question stands: will the so-called Free Speech comedians step up?
Angelone’s post is still live on his feed, serving as both a rallying cry and a reminder that comedy and politics often share the same stage.
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