A COMEDIAN has turned his loss of nearly 60 people into comedy gold.
Ahead of its June premiere, Marlon Wayans, 51, opened up about the heartfelt message behind his new comedy special, Good Grief.
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In a revealing interview with The New York Times, Marlon discussed how his new standup special is more than a “funny journey about the death of my parents.”
In early April 2023, patriarch, Howell Stouten Wayans, died at the age of 86, and in late July 2020, matriarch, Elvira Alethia Wayans, died at 81.
“I lost 58 people that I loved in a matter of three years. It felt, like, biblical,” the Scary Movie star added.
“I think as a comedian, I’m getting to the good stuff,” Marlon said.
“When you talk about real-life pain, like parents passing, and you can get through that set and you can still be irreverent, edgy, crazy, silly, thought-provoking, and vulnerable, I think that’s growth.”
“It’s a different way to look at something tragic,” he went on.
“I think the world has forgot how to laugh. We’re grooming people to be sensitive.”
“But I find when I’m in a comedy club, people like to laugh”
“They like to laugh at those dark things, the magic jokes. People want to laugh again,” Marlon closed with.
Among the 60 losses, The Wayans Brothers star mentioned the death of his friend, Chadwick Boseman, 43, “was a hard one.”
Good Grief streams on Amazon Prime on June 4.
‘I HEAR YA’
About a month ago, the White Chicks star paid tribute to his father on Instagram.
In the throwback photo, the father/son duo crossed their arms across their chest and smiled at the camera.
“It’s been a year Pop…baby boy is doing alright,” Marlon captioned the post.
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“I hear you every day in mostly everything I do,”
“Thank you for the introduction to God. He has been my rock,” he continued.
“It’s crazy because I think Ma’s passing broke me and shattered me into pieces, and your passing had allowed me to put everything back together again, but this time wider, stronger, better, and with an army of angels and God.”
‘A GREAT HEART’
In late March, the comic also paid tribute to his late mother on social media.
He posted a throwback photo from early childhood as his female parent carried him as a baby.
“Thank you, mama, for making me an exceptional man, with a great heart and a loving soul,” he wrote.
“I can hear you now. Don’t let them mistake your kindness for weakness.”
“I love you, and I trust you and Pop are sitting with God watching it all play out and protecting me all the way through,” Marlon ened.
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