Stand-Up Jerrod Carmichael Comes Out in New Comedy Special
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Stand-up comedian Jerrod Carmichael, creator of the critically acclaimed Carmichael Show that ran on NBC for three seasons comes out as gay in his new HBO special Rothaniel premiering on HBO tonight.
After telling a story about realizing his father had been cheating on his mother for years, Carmichael takes a beat and looks out at his audience. “After that was out in the open, I was left alone feeling like a liar, because I had a secret,” he says. “One that I kept from my father, my mother, my family, my friends, and you. Professionally, personally. And the secret is that I’m gay.”
“I’m accepting the love, I really appreciate the love. My ego wants to rebel against it. I rebelled against it my whole life. I thought I’d never, ever come out. At many points I thought I’d rather die than confront the truth of that, to actually say it to people. Because I know it changes some people’s perceptions of me. I can’t control that.”
Rothaniel premieres Friday, April 1 at 9 pm EST on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Carmichael will also host Saturday Night Live tomorrow night.
