Theo Von has reassured his supporters that he would “never attempt to take [his] own life” after making headlines for remarks he made following a challenging stand-up performance in New York City.
The comedian and podcast host performed at the Beacon Theater in New York on Saturday, where reports indicated that a significant portion of the audience left during a notably rough set. Discussions on Reddit labeled the event as a “massive failure” and suggested Von appeared “unprepared and chaotic” throughout what was intended to be a taping for an upcoming stand-up special.
Worries arose among fans after a video clip went viral showing the comedian telling the audience post-performance, “I don’t know what to say about that, but I’ve had a tough month, and I’m trying not to take my own life.”
Recently, on an episode of his “This Past Weekend” podcast, Von reflected on his taped comedy show performance, describing it as “rougher” and “less polished” than prior shows, mentioning he had been feeling “somewhat manic” leading up to the event.
“It wasn’t great, I’ll admit that… I take failure as part of my breakfast, brother,” Von stated. “And that’s alright; it’s part of my role. The first decade of performing comedy is packed with failures. Many of the best moments in my life have emerged from the ashes of failure.”
He also addressed his earlier suicide comment, emphasizing multiple times during the podcast, “I would never take my own life.”
Von shared, “I’m thankful to God for his kindness in my life. I care for my siblings, have many friends who love me, and I want to witness their children grow up. I aspire to have a wife and one day, my own kids. There are countless aspects of my life that inspire me to live and stay hopeful. I want to make a difference in the world.”
Von is currently working on his next stand-up special for Netflix, following his previous works “No Offense” from 2016 and “Regular People” from 2021. (Netflix did not respond to Variety‘s request for comment.) Since his last special, Von’s popularity has surged. His podcast, “This Past Weekend,” holds the No. 2 spot on the Spotify charts and has featured high-profile guests including Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Bernie Sanders in recent months.
As the 2024 elections approach, Von has been viewed as an influential figure in the so-called “manosphere” that has helped increase Trump’s outreach to younger voters. While he has shared spaces with the president, Von rarely discloses his own political opinions. In September, he criticized the Department of Homeland Security for using a clip of him in a social media campaign promoting the agency’s deportation statistics. “Yooo DHS I didn’t agree to be featured in this,” Von wrote on X. “I know you have my address, so please send a check. Please take this down and keep me out of your deportation videos. My views on immigration are much more nuanced than this video suggests. Goodbye!”
Watch the full episode of “This Past Weekend” below.
