“You can call me a lot of things, but ignorant I’d disagree on.” Andrew Schulz Comedian and Actor
Comedy is all about pushing boundaries, but what happens when the joke lands differently than expected?
Over the past few months, Ryan Clark and Andrew Schulz have had a public disagreement stemming from comments Andrew made in jest about Black women and their influence on men’s appearance. His remarks led Ryan to respond, emphasizing a commitment to defending his culture and refuting Andrew’s insinuations of seeking attention.
From their viral exchange about clout-chasing and defending black women to messages exchanged privately to the two finally deciding to hash it out face to face. Although tensions were high, the depth and tone of this discussion displayed respect, even in uncomfortable moments, the guys navigated the conversation through the many challenges and misconceptions to try and find a common ground.
On this episode of The Pivot Podcast with Ryan, Channing and Fred—Andrew’s authenticity shined through, bringing humor, honesty and humility as the men had an unfiltered discussion, where no topic was off limits. Andrew and Ryan don’t shy away from tough dialogue, sensitive topics and tackling the fine line between making people laugh and making them uncomfortable.
In an effort to separate impact of words from the intent, Andrew explains how his jokes can sometimes be misinterpreted and how comedy, at its core, is about perspective. As the convo furthers, the guys get in-depth about the weight of words, racism, reactions to jokes. the changing nature of comedic responsibility, social media and how the internet can twist context into controversy. Andrew admits that his approach to comedy has matured over time, and he’s become conscious of never wanting to hurt anyone and feels his humor is now diversified and united by the cultural impact of all people.
Not all serious business though, Andrew comes prepared with lots of one liners and fun jabs at Ryan, Fred and Channing, showing a glimpse of the wit, edge and quickness that has yielded his extraordinary success. Beyond the laughs, Andrew opens up about his personal life, from his father’s role in his career to getting his start in comedy to his struggles with starting a family and how his fanbase transcended into one of the most diverse audiences in comedy.
At the core of this discussion is proof that people, even those who have differences and seem on the total opposite sides of something, may be more alike than different.
