Crossword Genius

Friends put up with criticism for comedy (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

slapstick

'for comedy' is the definition.
(slapstick is a kind of comedy)

'friends put up with criticism' is the wordplay.
'friends' becomes 'pals' (pal is a kind of friend).
'put up' is a reversal indicator.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'criticism' becomes 'stick' (giving someone stick is criticising them).
'pals' reversed gives 'slap'.
'slap'+'stick'='SLAPSTICK'

(Other definitions for slapstick that I've seen before include "laugh" , "Simple comic act" , "unsophisticated humour" , "Boisterous comedy based on actions rather than words" , "Physical form of comedy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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