Robin Williams is widely recognized as one of the greatest actors and comedians of all time. Williams committed suicide at his home in Paradise Cay, California, on August 11, 2014. John Mulaney recently debunked a long-held theory about Williams’ death during his own stand-up comedy special.
John Mulaney wants everyone to know that not all comedians, including the late Robin Williams, who are driven by pain and sadness. Mulaney, who is 39, addressed the belief that comedians do what they do out of some underlying darkness in a clip from the upcoming Netflix special The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up. “With all due respect, f*ck off with that sh*t,” he said. “Being a comedian is not a psychiatric condition.”
He believes this is especially true for stand-up star Williams, who committed suicide in 2014 at the age of 63. “Have a little respect for a brilliant artist who was just more talented than you,” Mulaney continued. “You know, there are depressed people who don’t even have the decency to be great comedians. Why don’t you pick on them for a change?”
Mulaney added that humor is a joy to do, and he enjoys seeing people laugh, while he recognizes the darker side of the art form as well. “Are many of us also very f*cked up, myself included?” he asks. “Yes. But whatever.”
Mulaney has made headlines in the last two years for his divorce from ex-wife Anna Marie Tendler, fathering a kid with actress Olivia Munn, and entering treatment for drugs and alcohol after an intervention by fellow comedians Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, and Natasha Lyonne, among others.
Mulaney, Jon Stewart, Chelsea Handler, and Dave Chappelle feature in Netflix’s The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up, where they pay tribute to late comedians George Carlin, Joan Rivers, Robin Williams, and Richard Pryor. The 70-minute program aired on the streamer on May 19th.
Without question, Robin Williams will always be remembered as one of the finest actors and comedians of all time. You can check out the video of Mulaney praising Williams below. To get the latest updates, keep an eye on Thirsty.
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