Comedian Katt Williams has sparked controversy after making several shocking claims about fellow comedians in a viral podcast interview with former NFL player Shannon Sharpe. The wide-ranging interview on Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast covered topics from stolen jokes to blocked film scenes and has elicited strong reactions across the comedy world.
Background on Katt Williams
Katt Williams is an American comedian and actor known for his standup comedy and roles in films like the Friday sequels and Norbit. He’s developed a reputation within comedy circles for his controversial opinions and adversarial relationships with peers.
While hugely popular during the 2000s at the height of his standup success, Williams has courted conflict during his career. He has been arrested multiple times and faced lawsuits over altercations with fans. In 2012, he announced he was quitting standup over disputes with fellow comedians, though he eventually returned.
Williams Levels Multiple Accusations in Podcast Interview
In the Club Shay Shay interview which aired January 4th and quickly went viral, Williams made incendiary claims about several prominent Black comedians. He accused Cedric the Entertainer of stealing one of his jokes and using it in a 2000 HBO comedy special. And he attacked Steve Harvey as an joke thief who “robbed everybody fucking blind.”
Williams also called out Kevin Hart for refusing to help Black female comedians and claimed Tiffany Haddish lied about giving her money. Other figures criticized included D.L. Hughley, Sherri Shepherd, and Michael Blackson. He also made vulgar comments about music mogul Diddy.
The most disturbing story involved Williams allegedly stopping plans for a rape scene involving his character in 2002’s Friday After Next. He described the scene as “rape for jokes” and said he told the filmmakers “black people beating somebody up is funny, rape has never been funny.”
Fallout and Responses from the Comedy World
Williams’ incendiary accusations have become a top entertainment news story in recent days. Many comedians referenced in the interview have already responded publicly to defend themselves.
Kevin Hart quickly fired back at Williams in a series of Instagram videos. An angry Hart accused Williams of seeking attention: “This is about you trying to hopefully get some clicks….Why are you talking about the past?”
Longtime radio host Rickey Smiley also contested Williams’ claim that he does not pay opening acts, writing that Williams “sure has a lot to say about me” considering they have never worked together.
And Cedric the Entertainer disputed Williams’ story about the stolen joke in a post suggesting they move on: “Comedy is nothing without truth tellers, however harsh it may be. But truth isn’t always fact and facts aren’t always truth. I don’t have any animosity towards @kattpackallday.”
Not all responses have been negative. Roy Wood Jr. used humor to plead for elder comics not to engage: “All I ask is that any OG comics let us nephews handle this. Y’all got businesses to run.”
What’s Next for Katt Williams?
It remains to be seen if Williams’ provocative interview will help revive his comedy career. While he remains a draw based on past fame, he has faded from his peak of stardom in the late 2000s. And he continues to court controversy that may limit his opportunities.
But as the reactions pour in, Williams is dominating entertainment news headlines. If nothing else, his talent for stirring up attention remains intact. Still, many fellow comedians seem unwilling to turn the other cheek over accusations they see as unfair or exaggerated.
The Club Shay Shay interview will likely only amplify Williams’ reputation within comedy circles for dividing opinions. And it raises the question – at what point do truth-telling and score-settling cross the line for an outspoken standup like Katt Williams? For now, the fallout continues.
Table summarizing key figures criticized by Katt Williams:
| Comedian | Williams’ Accusation | Their Response |
|---|---|---|
| Cedric the Entertainer | Stole his joke | Denied claim, said “facts aren’t always truth” |
| Steve Harvey | Constant joke thief | No comment yet |
| Kevin Hart | Refuses to help female comics | Angrily fired back at Williams |
| Tiffany Haddish | Lied about giving her money | No comment yet |
| D.L. Hughley | No comment yet | |
| Sherri Shepherd | No comment yet | |
| Michael Blackson | No comment yet |
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