“All I’m asking is, have you ever been in a situation like that in a relationship where you felt trapped like you couldn’t get out of it and it was just easier to stay in it?”
It’s the kind of question you expect to hear from a psychologist rather than a comedian, right? But indeed, these are the words that came out of the mouth of Scottish stand-up, Daniel Sloss.
In his latest love-themed Netflix special, “Jigsaw,” Sloss pokes fun at, among other things, the “puzzling relationship patterns,” including dead-end relationships.
“All I’m asking is have you ever accidentally caught yourself thinking how much easier life would be if they were to just die?” he says, to a hysterical crowd.
“And not because you want them to die but just because them dying is like the easiest way for you to get out of that relationship. And it doesn’t involve either one of you getting hurt – emotionally.”
Sure, sounds harmless enough. But it seems Sloss’ “joke” has struck a chord with thousands of people and its impact is life-changing.
According to Sloss, this very joke has been the catalyst for more than 4,000 relationships ending, 17 canceled engagements and nine divorces.
“I just want to let you know I broke up with my girlfriend because everything you said in jigsaw hit me to the core in the best way possible,” one fan wrote.
“I watched Jigsaw and broke up with my boyfriend straight away – goddamn analogies,” another wrote.
“Me and a girl I was just beginning to date (Scottish ironically) watched it after sex. Told her, ‘well, I guess this is it.’ We both agreed.”
Commenting on the flood of messages he was getting, Sloss tweeted that he was going to stop tallying “just cause it’s a long job to count ’em.”
He added: “I’ve done my damage… tbh I’m happy to just watch the world fucking burn at this point.”
Keeping a tally on Twitter, Sloss has been posting messages he receives from fans about their own breakups.