For those who don’t know, this is the story of a beloved comedian who took a sharp turn from being the darling of stand-up comedy to struggling with addiction.
In December 2020, Mulaney checked himself into rehab in Pennsylvania. Now, in his new Netflix special, “Baby J,” he’s talking about his experience with addiction and recovery.
Why Is John Mulaney Famous?
For the unversed, John Mulaney is a comedy god who’s always dressed to the nines, usually sporting a three-piece suit while performing. He’s the epitome of a Midwesterner who’s approachable but also cosmopolitan – whatever that means.
Mulaney’s hilarious stand-up specials have included bits about everything from Civil War gazebos to Mick Jagger’s lyric-writing process. He’s the kind of comedian who can make you laugh without resorting to cheap tricks or being overly vulgar.
But as it turns out, Mulaney had a bit of a downturn. He details his Odyssean lengths in his latest Netflix stand-up special, ‘Baby J,’ where he talks about snorting cocaine off a baby changing table at a rest stop en route to rehab. Yup, even the funniest people have their dark side.
Mulaney’s Dark Side: Addiction and Divorce
Mulaney’s life took a turn for the worse in 2020 when he relapsed into drug use, divorced, had a baby with his new girlfriend, Olivia Munn, and admitted that he was using drugs to cope. It was a lot for anyone to handle, let alone a guy who’s used to making us laugh.
Mulaney married Anna Marie Tendler, an artist, writer, and stylist, from 2014 to 2020. The two had a rather low-key relationship, so it came as a surprise to many when they announced their divorce in 2020.
During his 60-day stay in Pennsylvania, Mulaney faced some hard truths about his addiction. In “Baby J,” he talks about carrying more drugs than a small pharmacy when he was admitted to a Pennsylvania facility at 4 am. He joked that he had other plans that weekend, but we’re pretty sure that none of them were as exciting as a 60-day rehab stint.
But the most revealing part of the special is when he talks about the darker side of his addiction. He shares that he hit rock bottom when he took drugs while working on “Saturday Night Live” and realized he was letting down the people who had supported him throughout his career.
An Intervention Fit for Comedy Royalty
According to Mulaney, his famous comedian friends staged a “star-studded” intervention for him. It was supposed to be a simple dinner with a college friend, but instead, 12 comedians turned up in person and via Zoom to encourage Mulaney to seek help. The line-up was impressive, including the likes of Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and Natasha Lyonne. That’s a line-up that could give SNL a run for its money!
Mulaney admits on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he was coming down from drugs and feeling a little railroaded then.
“I was going psychotic. I am sitting there in an awful chair, crashing from cocaine. No one will let me go to the bathroom to freshen up, and the funniest people are staring at me, refusing to do jokes. It was maddening.”
John Mulaney
But hey, at least he had a front-row seat to some of the funniest people in the world, not making jokes. In hindsight, he appreciates the gesture, calling it “flattering in its own way.”
Mulaney, still high on drugs at the time, wasn’t exactly thrilled about the intervention. But, as he put it, “It was a good group. As mad as I was when I walked in there, I was like, this is a good line-up.”
He also confirms that his friend and whole industry’s weird boyfriend, Pete Davidson, was one of the first people he spoke to when he entered rehab.
The Comeback Kid
Now that he’s living sober, Mulaney is working on his comeback. “Baby J” is his first stand-up special since his rehab stint, and he’s back to doing what he does best – making people laugh. But he’s also using his platform to raise awareness about addiction and mental health.
As he says in the special, “I don’t know why I started using drugs and alcohol. I don’t have a good answer for it. But I know that if you’re sober curious or you’re in recovery, it’s okay to be in that gray area. It’s okay to ask for help.”
He later people showered “BabyJ” with love and support.
It takes a lot of courage to talk about addiction and mental health, especially when you’re in the public eye. John Mulaney’s journey to sobriety reminds everyone that they can struggle with addiction, but it’s never too late to seek help. We’re rooting for you, John!
We highly recommend checking out his latest Netflix special, “Baby J.”
If you want to learn more about John Mulaney’s stint in rehab and other juicy pop culture news, head over to averagebeing.com. And don’t forget to leave a comment and let us know who’s your favorite comedian.
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