Chaunté Wayans has succeeded in being her authentic self.
Being a Wayans and becoming a comedian was initially frustrating for her, but now she understands and appreciates the generational wealth and empire her uncles Keenen, Damon, Marlon and Shawn have built for family members like herself. Having overcome the hurdle her last name used to present, Wayans is on the road for her New World Disorder tour, where she addresses subjects regarding her personal life and being a part of the LGBTQ community.
Recently, Wayans stopped by rolling out to discuss the art of stand-up and comedy’s eerie link to tragedy.
You’ve mentioned your bout with alcoholism. What do you want to say to anyone who’s dealing with addiction?
I’m still in recovery. I’m always gonna be in recovery … you might feel alone, but there are different avenues … if you have another opportunity to wake up, if you get a second chance at life after you’ve damaged your body, you should always be trying to find that help.
A lot of us might feel like we’re the only ones and we can’t get through depression or suicide or anything like that. I’m one of the people to attest that you can … with the people around, the help and the type of programs that are out there for you.
Listen, it’s well worth it. You deserve to live and you have a purpose in life. So don’t give up on yourself.
We lost Jak Knight last year and Robin Williams before that. Why do so many comedians deal with dark thoughts?
Because you don’t know what’s real or not.
A lot of times, we laugh at it, but it’s a lot of trauma. The funny thing is when I meet people like me, the trauma is very emotional for us. It’s very sensitive.
There are a lot of people who can go, “Man. Get over that. Everybody lives with life,” but a lot of people are sensitive to it and want to show love and want to live the way we really should be living, but society or people around you make you feel smaller than that and go, “That’s just not how life is.”
The craziest thing is, you could be the biggest person and be the loneliest out of all because you just think about, “What if I’m in that dark space? What if this happens, and I’m not Robin Williams or Chaunté Wayans anymore?”
I’ve had plenty of friends being sober. This past year, when I did pick back up, I lost a lot of friends. That was an abandonment.
I always say this to people, but you don’t know if somebody loves you, or is loyal to you until s— gets bad. I don’t care how long you’ve been in the relationship, but I look at people getting divorced and I go, “Well, that shows their true character when they’re in the court system.”
It’s tough, man, because you feel like nobody understands you, and that’s the hardest thing to get through.
If you or a loved one needs help, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to 741741.
