Katt Williams is hilarious and underrated. He has been bringing his unvarnished honesty and bombastic personality to film and TV for decades, and he’s made it a huge success. He is not a household brand, but he did join ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe for his “Club Shay Shay podcast” to discuss his 30-year career and his experiences.
All that glitters may not be gold.
Williams was brutal in the nearly three-hour-long interview. He slammed fellow comedians such as Rickey Smiley and Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, Cedric The Entertainer, and Rickey the Entertainer. Williams praised Sharpe for creating “a place where the truth can be told.” Then he slammed him: “I’ve watched these lowbrow comedians disrespect you in your face and tell straight-up lies!”
The internet was stunned on January 3 when Williams, a journalist for ESPN First Take, sat down with Shannon Sharpe to conduct a three-hour interview. This took place via his podcast Club Shay Shay. Williams began the interview by saying, “I had to come because you have created a safe space for the truth to get out.” Williams said, “I have seen all these lowbrow comics disrespect you and tell you lies straight up.” Was he here to “set things straight”? Sharpe replied. So.
Williams called Rickey Smiley out, claiming that Smiley had lied to Sharpe about his original role as Money Mike in the movie “Friday After Next” but that he ended up playing Santa Claus. Williams corrected him.
WATCH:
Katt Williams fried Rickey Smiley and Tyler Perry 😂 pic.twitter.com/pmVlNXFAco
— DJ Green Villain (@DJGreenVillain) January 3, 2024
Sharpe was told that Rickey Smiley couldn’t perform because Rickey Smiley was incapable of performing. Tyler Perry and he can’t act like a man for the life of them.
Ouch.
Williams said the original script included the character Money Mike as being raped. Williams convinced the writers that this was not the case.
The problem with Friday After Next is that we are trying to create a classic comedy. This comedy includes a rape. Rape is never funny, no matter what circumstances or who the victim may be.
Williams claimed he asked the producers if they had any questions for him.
If you could allow me to make this movie without the black man being raped, it would be twice as funny.
It was the first time an actor other than the star of the show had written his script. Williams’ standard for his brand of humor is evident in this. Williams is adamant about taking full responsibility for any role, whether it’s acting, voiceover, or scripting. He also refuses to cross certain lines, unlike many of his peers.
Williams thanked comedian Mark Curry, who created the sitcom “Hanging With Mr. Cooper”, for helping him improve a joke that he delivered on BET’s “ComicView.” Williams claims that Cedric the Entertainer stole his joke and used it in “The Original Kings of Comedy.” Sharpe asks Williams if he is being petty or if he has an epic and eye-opening rant.
Williams said that winners cannot allow losers to rewrite history. Williams said that I would not say these things on your platform if they did not violate my name. You’re not messing up if you give a lie a platform. I don’t say, “Hold it, that’s never happened, and it’s not untrue. There are hundreds of witnesses to each thing I’m saying.”
WATCH:
Katt Williams talking about Cedric The Entertainer stealing his jokes and the problem he got with Steve Harvey, Shannon Sharpe got one with this interview pic.twitter.com/Zwgk0ELDFo
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) January 3, 2024
Williams went on to call Kevin Hart a Hollywood plant. Williams wasn’t the first to throw Jell-O during this food fight. Kevin Hart is on record as saying that Williams was a whiner and had the same opportunity he did, but Williams missed it. Hart claimed that Williams’ failures were caused by narcotics. (Watch the video below).
Williams’s response:
Warning: This language is coarse
Katt Williams calls Kevin Hart an industry PLANT!!🚨 pic.twitter.com/HM7AG8I8wt
— Puppy Churro (@lalawosala) January 3, 2024
I had every Kevin Hart movie on my desk for five years. All I said was, “Can we get some of the Stepin Fetchit s**t out so I can do this?” It doesn’t have to be overtly gay because I am not homosexual. It doesn’t have to be that funny, right? And then me saying it and them going ‘Oh yes, no problem’, and then giving it to another guy and him doing it exactly as it was, and acting like I am a bad person because I stand on my standards.
Black business entrepreneur, Dr. Boyce WATKINS has also expressed similar sentiments regarding Hart. He believes that Hart perpetuates a certain type of comedy that is acceptable to everyone no matter how demeaning to the image of Black men.
Williams’ explanations of why he was blackballed by these big names and lied about are getting less attention.
WATCH:
Since the Late Night Wars of Dave Letterman and Jay Leno, comedy hasn’t been so interesting. It is a mirror of what’s happening in academia, politics, and culture. The truth, as well as inconvenient incidents, are revealed.
It’s still only January. If this comedy showdown is anything to go by, 2024 will be an exciting ride.
