The videos reviewed were drawn from a random sample of 30 comedy films made in the last 10 years. The negative and humorous portrayals of male sexual abuse victims in films and other popular cultural media are potentially harmful to abused boys and young men and may interfere with their healing. The concepts and attitudes portrayed in the films are sexist and affirm and reinforce stereotypes about gender roles that are harmful to males. They blame and shame male victims and force them to remain silent about what happened to them; moreover, they support the cultural and political minimization and denial about violence against males. Negative and comical portrayals of male sexual abuse hinder the development of a wide-ranging discussion of the extent and scope of the problem of violence and child abuse in American society. By discouraging disclosures by males, many of the films feed the silence that supports and encourages more violence and abuse against all persons; and by discouraging disclosures by males, they hinder the undertaking of research and the development of programs for male victims. The comical portrayal of male abuse, including the light treatment of victims and perpetrators helps abusers minimize and deny the impact of their behavior on their victims. 14 references