Why was Naevius imprisoned for his satire?

Gnaeus Naevius was imprisoned because he incorporated outspoken, critical remarks regarding Roman daily life and powerful political figures into his comedies.12

While Roman comedy was generally modeled after Greek New Comedy—which functioned as an escape into fantasy and literary convention—Naevius used his plays to deliver pointed social and political commentary. This practice of inserting topical criticisms of influential men led to his imprisonment and potential exile. His experience served as a significant warning to later playwrights, effectively discouraging the inclusion of such direct topical references in Roman comedy thereafter.21