Damon Wayans has an upcoming stand-up show Saturday at Spotlight 29 Casino and he’s telling folks it will be his very last.
He tells Desert Sun:
“The traveling is killing me.
“And I don’t like this climate. You’ve got to watch what you’re saying. It’s not standup as I know it. I can’t even explain how old I feel talking to college kids about any subject other than pimples and s*x. They can’t relate to it.”
He’s also not fond of today’s youth either:
“They have no world view. They’re so open, they’ve accepted anything anyone does. There are churches for murderers. That’s OK with them. Murderers need to worship, too. I mean, who are these people? I think the cell phone has made people brain-dead. They look down so much at their phones and they’re filming what they’ve seen. So they’re not really enjoying it because they’re filming it. My question is, do they go home and play it back and laugh? Is that when I get my laugh?”
Interestingly enough, Damon also is annoyed that President Obama is off-limits to black comedians:
“Black people, black comedians, have a very protective allegiance to Obama. They don’t want to be the ones to dog the first black president, so they’re not really speaking out on a lot of the things that went down. The audience is different. The temperament of the country is different. It don’t feel like you’re getting all the laughs you’re supposed to get for the right jokes. A lot of ‘ooohs’ and ‘Shut up!'”
While Damon is seriously considering retiring, his younger brother Marlon Wayans is hoping he changes his mind.
He wrote the following open letter to his big brother on Instagram:
Damon Wayans officially retired from stand up? First of all my big brother Damon is quietly one of my top 3 favorite comedians of all time. I loooove Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Damon Wayans. When I think of comedians I’d like to be like he’s the guy. He fearless, innovative, physical, truthful, lovable, dark, truthfully, edgy, biting, original and funny as f*ck. He can tell a joke, animate the joke then do a five minute monologue that would blow your mind. His characters were so brilliant I’d think they were people. His work is something for all comics to study. If I can be half as good as Damon Wayans I will be damn f*cking happy. My GOAT. Retire? Given the climate of today’s PC world I understand why, but the game needs his fearlessness. Guys like Damon say the sh*t we only dare to think in the darkest corners of our mind. Retired? Hmmm he loves it too much … Maybe for now but knowing D he’ll be back. I hope so he’s my reason I do this. Love you my n*g… My brother raised me in this comedy game like a Jedi. I went on the road with him when I was 8 and watched him put together classics. I’m so blessed to have you. Thank you for inspiring this lil’ boy to be great. Handiman is still the funniest sh*t I’ve ever seen a human being do.
While I agree society has gotten too PC, you can’t make a tasteless joke about r-pe and not expect backlash. Damon needs to get over himself and just admit he was wrong.
Crybaby a-s.
I don’t think he’s really going to stop. He’s just in his feelings.
That didn’t sound like a joke to me which is what makes it even more disgusting.
Damon is still a great comedian he should keep doing stand up especially if he still loves it. But I will never look at him the same way again after I seen that interview he definitely rubbed me the wrong way and the backlash he got from it was warranted.
Good riddance. What he said was f-cked up. You never blame the victim.