Katt Williams melts down on stage, threatens and spits on a fan
By Bree Davies Fri., Nov. 2 2012 at 9:02 AM

[img:$uid]http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/KattWilliams2.jpg[/img:$uid]

Other than the hat, this man in no way resembles the wreck of Katt Williams I saw last night

I can't imagine that I was the only one who felt trapped by the mania of Katt Williams as I sat inside the less-than-half-full Wells Fargo Theatre last night.The first of two Denver shows on his Ghetto National Convention Tour, this was a car wreck from the start. From the late start of the show -- tickets said 8 p.m., but a very disorganized collection of six opening comedians didn't get started until well after 9 p.m. -- to Williams' Jekyll & Hyde personality conversion when he finally took the stage almost two hours later, the night was badly off-course. And Katt was not in control. Whether he was high or anxious or angry or affected or all of those things combined, everyone in the theater -- although many had left by then -- saw a very public wreck.

I'd been so excited to see this man perform live for the first time in my life, and it was clear that my fellow audience members were feeling that way, too. Couples were dressed up, gaggles of girlfriends were sipping beer and wine, and the early arrivals were sitting back in the theater, enjoying the opening DJs as the rest of the crowd found seats.

Introduced as "Big Pussy," Williams came out in a cowboy hat and floor-length fur coat, which dropped to reveal a neck of gold chains. Apparently, this "Big Pussy" routine was an alternate persona for the comedian, but nothing seemed different from the little pimp his fans know well. In fact, during the few moments this alter-ego regaled us with commentary on the upcoming election, Williams's signature smart-ass style shone through. During these few moments, he started parading through the crowd, which seemed all in good fun.

But our time with Big Pussy was just a short and sweet primer for Gina Yashere, the first in a downhill toss of opening acts. The British-born comedian was good, but she wasn't Katt. And it was clear that the crowd had come for Katt.

Yashere bagged on the crumbling American healthcare system, Americans' addiction to prescription medication and other things America did wrong in general. Her "fucks this"s and "fuck that"s quickly became grating, but her time was thankfully limited. I thought we were going to get Katt back to the stage -- and we did, but only for a minute.

Big Pussy reappeared briefly to introduce John Witherspoon -- famous to most for his role of Mr. Jones, Ice Cube's father in the Friday series. Witherspoon spent the first several minutes of his routine reprising his famed Friday role, dropping all of his signature lines and crude gestures.

It was entertaining, sort of, but it wasn't Katt, and there was a growing feeling that no one was really driving this bus. The show was under way, but where it was going was unclear.

Comedian Cortney Gee followed, and many in the audience took this opportunity to head back up the mountainous stairs to the bar. Ten minutes of mediocre jokes followed before Katt reappeared again as Big Pussy, announcing a very unnecessary "fifteen minute intermission." This was when the road really got bumpy.

A good thirty minutes later, two more comedians were thrown to the wolves, and the audience was now audibly wondering if Willams was ever going to take the stage. Finally, around 10:50 p.m., the fuckery appeared to have come to an end, and Katt returned dressed as, from what I could tell, himself, trailing a cloud of his signature weed smoke.

But the man who stood in front of us was a mess. He paced the stage, sweating and singing, rapping in mumbles to the song booming overhead, facing what was left of the raucous crowd. He ripped his shirt off, did some stunt-like push-ups and more pacing, pouring water all over his face and body.

He shook out a fuzzy Broncos blanket and carried it across the stage like a flag. Continuing to garble his words, he then dropped the blanket on a very inebriated fan who had climbed on the stage moments before to dance. The comedian's babble then became a freestyle of sorts, angrier by the minute, the fight in the air now thick.


As more audience members left, those who remained inside the venue felt the tension rise as the heckling became more pronounced. Katt's demeanor continued to spiral downward -- but he still was not telling any jokes, instead elevating his bizarre behavior with more babble and erratic movements. He certainly seemed elevated, and not by the altitude: The comedian would pull out a cigarette, feel his pockets for a lighter, give up when one didn't appear and start the search all over again in a sad, repetitive cycle.

Pushed too far by hecklers, Katt finally demanded the house lights come on as he jumped off the stage and went on a hunt for those who vocally disagreed with his performance. He reportedly spit on one heckler (I couldn't see see it to verify) and threatened another. Returning to the stage, Williams delivered a strange closing rant involving mentions of E-40 and Too Short and San Diego (see the fan video above.)

Then he promised that all ticket holders would get their money back, threw the mike and left the stage.

It was a sad end to an emotionally terrorizing show. For all the hope and hype that's surrounded the comedian's comeback, it was clear that he was not ready for such a loaded public performance. In the three hours of this reign of error, Katt Williams spent less than half an hour on stage as headliner. And when he was finally in front of the sparse crowd that had started out stoked to see him, all he could do was lash out in anger.

I hope he has the support he needs to stabilize mentally and emotionally after such a public breakdown. Because the Katt Williams I saw was not in a good place. And neither was anyone at the Wells Fargo Theatre last night.

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Tweets by the author of this article:

Video of incident:

LINK here: http://blogs.westword.com...down_o.php

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Ironically, when Hurricane Irene roared through the East Coast last year, Katt caused a scene by taking his coat and shirt off and fighting with folks during a Young Jeezy concert and had to be thrown out. Now with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Katt decides to make an ass of himself again and this was not longer after he pulled a gun on Faizon Love... fucking idiot. There was a time I felt sorry for him but seems like the crackhead don't want help.

[Edited 11/3/12 20:44pm]

Another episode of "What the fuck are you doing Katt Williams"? I just can't with this dude.

First of all, it looks like he was only a master of ceremonies for this show, but by the time he was supposed to STAY on stage for his part, he goes off the deep end and seems to be apparently high. My goodness. And what was that mess about E-40 and Too Short about? I don't think the audience quite understood that either. Just a big ass

This man has actually killed his career. And it's really sad.

Blackball.............here he comes.

Such a shame- he was once such a promising comic.

But this has been going on for a while (his mental descent). I remember after he hit with the success of his HBO special there were clips of a concert maybe a year after where he was so high he made no sense and was just a downer. It was totally depressing. At the time I just one-offed it as dude having a bad night and maybe disillusioned with the bullsh** that is Hollywood Confidential once you're arrived, but from that moment on, besides a few well placed appearances in the mainstream, he just slowly (but steadily) descended into gutterbucket craziness. Yup...damn shame.

It sounds like he showed up straight, and was great.

And then he got increasingly and massively f'ed up between introducing comedians.

It looks like the man needs some serious help.

I knew shit was going downhill when I read that they had to start the show 30 minutes after it was supposed to start... I'm guessing he laces his weed with PCP...

RodeoSchro said:

It sounds like he showed up straight, and was great.

And then he got increasingly and massively f'ed up between introducing comedians.

It looks like the man needs some serious help.

He does. And who knows what kind of people who are currently surrounding him..that could possibly be contributing to the madness. I know that out of his entourage there has to be at least one person who see's this cry for help. Who is managing him?

Shit has been over for him for awhile now and this episode just wraps it up

missfee said:

RodeoSchro said:

It sounds like he showed up straight, and was great.

And then he got increasingly and massively f'ed up between introducing comedians.

It looks like the man needs some serious help.

He does. And who knows what kind of people who are currently surrounding him..that could possibly be contributing to the madness. I know that out of his entourage there has to be at least one person who see's this cry for help. Who is managing him?

I don't think he has a manager anymore.

I watched the last few seconds once more and I meant to ask this in my initial post: What was up with that Malcolm X comment he made, and how did that have anything to do with someone heckling his show? All of the other silly BS he said, it's like "oh well" but when he went there with the Malcolm comment, he struck a nerve with me.

Timmy84 said:

missfee said:

He does. And who knows what kind of people who are currently surrounding him..that could possibly be contributing to the madness. I know that out of his entourage there has to be at least one person who see's this cry for help. Who is managing him?

I don't think he has a manager anymore.

missfee said:

I watched the last few seconds once more and I meant to ask this in my initial post: What was up with that Malcolm X comment he made, and how did that have anything to do with someone heckling his show? All of the other silly BS he said, it's like "oh well" but when he went there with the Malcolm comment, he struck a nerve with me.

Yeah Katt's an idiot.

Katt has not been the same after he got KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT at this club in Detroit a few years ago! Another one bites the dust

debbiedean2 said:

Katt has not been the same after he got KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT at this club in Detroit a few years ago! Another one bites the dust

He claimed he was just slapped lol I don't believe him. Especially since dude was described as some big dude...

It's just so sad.

Timmy84 said:

debbiedean2 said:

Katt has not been the same after he got KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT at this club in Detroit a few years ago! Another one bites the dust

He claimed he was just slapped lol I don't believe him. Especially since dude was described as some big dude...

I wish I still had the clip from WJLB and people who was at the club was calling in and they said that dude slapped Katt out of his chair and onto the floor and his ass just laid there! So yeah, it was a slap but it was a HARD slap! So hard that his his perm jumped out his hair!!!! Let me stop...

debbiedean2 said:

Timmy84 said:

He claimed he was just slapped lol I don't believe him. Especially since dude was described as some big dude...

I wish I still had the clip from WJLB and people who was at the club was calling in and they said that dude slapped Katt out of his chair and onto the floor and his ass just laid there! So yeah, it was a slap but it was a HARD slap! So hard that his his perm jumped out his hair!!!! Let me stop...

Yeah I googled it and I forgot dude admitted it was a slap.

I was watching the video of this meltdown last night and at first I thought it was a publicity stunt but yeah Katt Williams seems like he's smoking/snorting/shooting up some kinda crazy, designer psychotic drugs or whatever. Hope he gets himself together soon.

Timmy84 said:

debbiedean2 said:

I wish I still had the clip from WJLB and people who was at the club was calling in and they said that dude slapped Katt out of his chair and onto the floor and his ass just laid there! So yeah, it was a slap but it was a HARD slap! So hard that his his perm jumped out his hair!!!! Let me stop...

Yeah I googled it and I forgot dude admitted it was a slap.

You know, that pic you posted of Katt above in your first post? Well I can't help it, but Katt looks a lot like one of my exes, sans the the perm, pimp persona and the pcp laced weed (notice I didn't say the mental health issues, surprise meltdowns and the height ).

LittleBLUECorvette said:

He comitted carer suicide when he went up against Steve Harvey a few years back. You don't battle someone who has way more clout then you in the industry. It showed when friends with more clout sided with Harvey. And he contnues to dig a hole with every incident and every comedian he makes beef with. I bet this is the last time John Witherspoon does a show with him. This sounds exacly how Faizon Love described a show he appeared on with Katt.

If Steve is such a "sincere" person that he claims to be with his clout (which I agree, he does have pull and power in the industry) then wouldn't he offer to help Katt get straight and put all the BS they've had in the past aside? I know it's not his responsibility to do that, but I'm just sayin'.

[Edited 11/5/12 4:34am]

Fans were just lucky that he didn't start eating people, you never know what people are on these days

missfee said:

I didn't go to his show. Did we get thrown under the bus? I can't find a single review anywhere.

Didn't he get in trouble for shoplifting in a WalMart in Georgia recently? such random weird shit he does....

Timmy84 said:

missfee said:

I watched the last few seconds once more and I meant to ask this in my initial post: What was up with that Malcolm X comment he made, and how did that have anything to do with someone heckling his show? All of the other silly BS he said, it's like "oh well" but when he went there with the Malcolm comment, he struck a nerve with me.

Yeah Katt's an idiot.

I don't think he's an idiot so much as he's in a very very dark place, with drugs messing up his mind, and likely not having the best handlers or people surrounding him with his best interest at heart- i look at that dude and see not a one who gives nary a damn about somebody imploding before their eyes.

missfee said:

I watched the last few seconds once more and I meant to ask this in my initial post: What was up with that Malcolm X comment he made, and how did that have anything to do with someone heckling his show? All of the other silly BS he said, it's like "oh well" but when he went there with the Malcolm comment, he struck a nerve with me.

I imagine he was trying to make a correlation between X and how when you tell the truth about stuff (including some black people themselves) they become traitors and sellouts, and you can get yourself shot/killed. It was a hell of stretch for an analogy, but I'm guessing he's in a mental headspace where he feels the people that once celebrated him closing in on him like prey ready to be shot down, or at the very least, like a caged animal.

Man i am done with Katt.

I used to think dude was funny & i used to watch his specials.

But he has lost his comedic touch & lost his shit on drugs, meanigless beefs & crazy shit

Katt was imo a talented comedic dude.. if he would have stopped using his same material over & over... and not become a hardcore druggie.

Man i wonder what his kids think? or does he even think about them? probably not.

missfee said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

He comitted carer suicide when he went up against Steve Harvey a few years back. You don't battle someone who has way more clout then you in the industry. It showed when friends with more clout sided with Harvey. And he contnues to dig a hole with every incident and every comedian he makes beef with. I bet this is the last time John Witherspoon does a show with him. This sounds exacly how Faizon Love described a show he appeared on with Katt.

If Steve is such a "sincere" person that he claims to be with his clout (which I agree, he does have pull and power in the industry) then wouldn't he offer to help Katt get straight and put all the BS they've had in the past aside? I know it's not his responsibility to do that, but I'm just sayin'.

[Edited 11/5/12 4:34am]

Could be any number of reasons, perhaps one very possibly being that he might not want to touch that sickness or invite into his world with a 10 ft. pole. Every time I see this dude he might as well have a black cloud around him.

I believe myself to be Christian to the core of my soul and all about love and forgiveness, but I'm also perfectly fine with forgiving people who have screwed me over from afar. Sometimes you have to know when not to be around toxicity and let the people who were meant to play a bit part in your life not take up space as a supporting player or starring role. I have no doubt whatsoever that the day will come on this earth when the lion will lay down with the lamb, but hell, Christ has not returned yet- so until then there are just some dangers that need to be kept at a distance, and especially that which is as dysfunctioanally unrepentant as someone like Katt Williams.

LadyCasanova said:

Fans were just lucky that he didn't start eating people, you never know what people are on these days

I'm wondering if it's meth, his behavior screams it. But with so many new things out it's hard to tell.