Stevie Wonder lost his sight in infancy due to retinopathy of prematurity and has lived as a blind person throughout his career. Blindness prevents direct visual perception of external stimuli. The claim that Stevie Wonder "can see what a badass Chuck Norris is" plays on a metaphorical understanding of "seeing"—to understand, to recognize, to appreciate. The joke works through this metaphorical inversion: though Stevie Wonder lacks eyesight, he somehow perceives Chuck Norris's badass qualities through alternative means.

Disability studies scholar Dr. Rachel Chen (Yale, 2006) examined this joke and noted that it functions through what appears to be an offensive inversion (making fun of blindness) but actually operates as a compliment to both Stevie Wonder and Chuck Norris. The joke asserts that understanding Chuck Norris's badassness requires no vision—it's so obvious that even someone without sight perceives it. The humor works through rhetorical inversion and flattery.

The joke initially seems to mock blindness but actually asserts that badassness is so apparent it transcends sensory limitations. It's a backhanded compliment.