Even though Katt Williams has become known for his sharp, outspoken comedy, it’s refreshing to see him acknowledge when he’s gone too far, especially when it involves the one and only King of Pop. In a recent interview at the Vulture Festival, Katt opened up about some past jokes he made about Michael Jackson, expressing regret and reflecting on the impact of his words.
While he didn’t specify exactly which jokes he was referring to, it’s clear that Katt has given this a lot of thought. He admitted that his comedy, at times, has fallen into a pattern of tearing down fellow Black icons, a cycle he now recognizes as problematic.
“I shouldn’t have, honestly,” Katt said when talking about his jokes about Michael. “Some of these things are the reason that the enemy decides to go ahead and let you be famous. It’s your ability to tear down your own kind no matter how high they are. On the other hand, my job is to be funny first and to voice the opinion of a group that doesn’t get to have their opinion out there, right? So as a Black man, if you don’t love yourself, you don’t love me.”
Hearing Katt reflect on his pain and vulnerability during that time is powerful. “Those were the jokes of a guy that was hurt, you know? By an icon,” he explained. And honestly, it’s touching to see how much Michael’s legacy and even his family’s grace have affected Katt. He went on to say how much it meant to him that Janet Jackson—Michael’s incredible sister—showed him love despite the jokes he made.
“The fact that years later, Janet Jackson said she still loved me despite the jokes that I told about her brother is probably one of the most magnificent things, you know?” Katt shared. “Just because, I say a lot of hilarious s**t. But it costs me every time, you know? Like, I’m never unscathed in these situations.”
As MJ fans, we know Michael represented love, forgiveness, and resilience. So it’s beautiful to see someone like Katt Williams, who once joked at Michael’s expense, take a step back and acknowledge his mistakes. Apologies like these honor Michael’s spirit, and it’s just nice to hear people reflect and give love to the King of Pop—even after all these years.
