MAGA Heckler Trounced by Comedian at Cobb’s
You would think they know better. Then again, they don’t know much to begin with. Yes, Trump supporters do visit San Francisco. They have the audacity to champion the felon and disgraced former US president. Don’t mistake it for confidence, however. Just a touch of push-back is all it takes to send these panicky xenophobes over the edge.
And that’s exactly what happened at Cobb’s Comedy Club when Gary Owen took the stage.
A little about Gary Owen
If the Trump-loving heckler was at all familiar with comedian Gary Owen, let alone his following, he probably would’ve stayed home. Most white people, funny or not, might squirm in their seats at the way Owen defies racial barriers in comedy. It’s because few possess the skills Owen has to bridge cultures through humor without an ounce of malice. His smart, relatable style amassed a sizable following among Black communities. Ebony magazine named Owen “Black America’s Favorite White Comic” in April 2011.
Watching Owen’s comedy assemble and unite such a diverse crowd feels like a miracle in itself. He eschews the superficial for real-life anecdotes that build on one another to redefine self and placehood. Some might say he’s fearless. Owen might say there’s nothing to fear; people are people, and everyone loves to laugh.
Well, almost everyone.
A MAGA heckler digs in
Gary Owen was in town October 11–12th to perform at Cobb’s Comedy Club. During one of his sets, he mentioned the upcoming election. “I’m not bright enough to tell you who to vote for,” he started. You could hear him change his mind about discussing it. “I’m not even gonna go there.” Right then, some idiot yelled, “Trump!”
I’d have paid to be in the audience, but sadly I’ve been out of town. Had I been there, I would’ve reveled in feeling the audience turn against him. First of all, read the goddamn room (is that too generous, assuming he can read?). You’re seeing a comic, adored by the Black community, in San Francisco. You’d have to be delusional to think simping for Trump would go over well here.
Take the L, bro.
Owen went easy on the guy at first. Clearly his feelings were hurt. But the guy wouldn’t let it go, the second comedy sin (the first being dumb enough to heckle a professional). When his wholly anti-Trump audience boo’d the former president, the heckler shouted, “Watch your mouth!”
If you didn’t know how willing and ready Owen is to go to bat for his audience, you do now. He mocked the heckler: “What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do? ‘Watch your mouth!?’ Motherfucker, you couldn’t even get tickets in the front row. I ain’t worried about your late-buyin’ ticket-ass.” Owen drummed up more support by thanking members of his audience for laughing at “every single joke,” the interaction with the heckler implicitly included. The MAGA-loser found himself totally outnumbered, now that is great.
“Give me five minutes, motherfucker,” said the Trumpy.
“You’re not getting five minutes, ‘motherfucker.’ And that was the whitest ‘motherfucker’ I have ever heard,” Owen said, drawing huge laughs.
If you think you’re going to outwit a comedian,
By all means, try. No one will stop you. It’s the ultimate instance of Schadenfreude watching an arrogant dumbass get ridiculed for his stupidity with everyone else agreeing. If you spend even five minutes with a seasoned comedian, you’ll find they have armor-thick skin and an arsenal of comebacks. Besides, there’s always a failsafe. The third comedy sin: being a jackass even after you’ve been told to shut up. A defeated “Fuck you” from the Trump-loving trash bag sealed his fate, causing security to eject him from the club. Three strikes, you’re out.
Comedy isn’t easy. You know what is? Laughing; at oneself, our reality, the oddity of living inside breathing, farting, thinking bio-machines. There is more than enough darkness to go around. Be different and make light of it.
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