In his standup specials, the former “Patriot Act” host often recounts harrowing experiences he’s faced as an Asian American and Muslim American. Does it matter that much of it never happened to him?
https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-communications/hasan-minhajs-emotional-truths
I can definitely empathize with why he did this, but I simply cannot condone it. If he had simply concluded each performance by revealing that some of his stories were exaggerated and/or fabricated while explaining his reasoning for having done so, as is the case with many narrative works/performance art pieces, that would have lent gravitas and credibility to his performances as a whole, but this? This is huxterism, and his admitting to it now - no matter how openly - and without and shred of remorse makes him look all the worse for it.