Berner Phone - Ziwe: Baited & Bravo Firings

Episode Date: July 10, 2020

Ziwe is comedy’s “it girl” right now, being featured in the New York Times and Vanity fair in this month alone! She is a writer, comedian, and host of the hottest Instagram show right now, Baited where she makes white people uncomfortable. She is also a huge reality tv fan, fashionista, and activist. Sign up for your trial today at NOOM.COM/BERN To get a Beach Body FREE trial membership, text HANNAH to 303030  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/berninginhell/support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Burning Hell What's up, you guys? Welcome to another episode. We are in the dark burning depths, the lava hot hell on earth. And I am with Zeeway Fumido. Is that your pronounce your name? Yes, but I usually just go by Zeeway, but yeah. Zeeway.

just like Cher, it's just Zeeway. Zeeway, do you remember how we met? Was it at, I think, for Aesos? It was. Yeah. And it was kind of like a little bit of a cooler vibe than I am. And I walked in and I was immediately like, didn't know what to do. I was like talking to the coordinator, like the marketing person.

And she's like, bitch, make some friends. L-O-L. And then you were just like very warm and good energy and big smile. Thank you. And I remember wanting to leave. And then, like, I ran into you at the end. And I was like, okay, I can survive this for a little longer because I like this girl's energy. Oh, my gosh.

Do you remember me? Yeah, of course. I just remember you being really, really outgoing. And so you were just, like, an easy person to talk to because it was like, I didn't have to pull teeth for conversation. You had opinions. I think we were talking to someone who was, like, breaking up with their boyfriend. And you were both, like, very, like, I have a problem.

Like, I have a problem where I am, like, nosy and I give a lot of prescriptive advice to strangers. And so we were both like, you should do this and don't do that. And we're both, like, single. We have fully invested giving terrible, like, very passionate advice. We were like... Also, when I'm single, I have this, like, negative mode with men where I have no patience. And, like, if a girl's like, my boyfriend took too long to text, I was like, burn down his neighborhood. Don't say that on the internet, you're going to get flagged on, like, no fly list.

this is burning in hell this is hell this is where bad things happen Zeeway let me give a little intro because I just went into it but she is a writer and comedian but you um started as an intern at Comedy Central you also went to Northwestern you're an angelic nerd um I did my research basically week to this bitch comes on her internship writes a joke that gets used on the Stephen Colbert show yeah Colbert before incredible then you've written for the onion which i always think is like the most clever sense of humor you you were a writer on the rundown with um robin feed feedy and she also um you were only 25 when you got that job i think so i don't remember time kind of has i don't know what day it's so

maybe time is a social construct truly early in your life and now you're currently a writer on Deezis and Mero. Yes. And you have your own YouTube. She sometimes works, as you can tell. She has her own YouTube show entitled Bated with Zeeway. And you also, before quarantine hit, you had a pop show in Williamsburg that I was lucky to be a part of once. That's right.

You did push-ups. Oh, my God. Which I was so funny. Okay. So pop show. Do you want to explain pop show? pop show to the people. So pop show, pop show is a, so it's a premise on the idea that I want to be a pop star, but maybe I don't have the skill set to become one. I don't have a billion dollar label to back me.

So I host a monthly show where I invite my favorite comedians to sing songs about pop culture and politics at Union Hall. So, and every month I'll make a new song about Amarosa or about making it clap for democracy or whatever AOC. And so I dropped an album called Generation Zeeway and Hannah was one of my guests, and she did push-ups, and it was the funniest thing I've ever seen. It was so funny. You are too nice to me because, yeah, I got invited, and I was like, who should I be? And I decided I was going to be pink. And I didn't realize, like, how long the lyrics would be.

Like, I was like, I'll do, you know, a minute of song. And then I realized, like, three seconds in, I'm like, this is too long of a song to sing. So I just started doing push-ups, because I just think pink is the, like, most physical. badass bitch and then I didn't think of any other dance moves or really comedy but the energy was amazing and also you're

you're I don't know if this is like annoying but I kind of feel like you're kind of an it girl right now in comedy. Thank you I would not describe myself as that but I welcome the description but I think you are an it girl because you wouldn't describe yourself as that because actual girls who think

they're it girls are annoying okay God bless but you have this like um aesthetic to you like from your eyeliner to like the confidence of the outfits that you wear to your hair were you always this like stylish or like almost fashion forward i've always loved fashion famously i did a show with luanne de la seps and she thought i was 19 years old because i was wearing all pink she thought i was in college so i've always been passionate about like clothes and stuff but i've never like i didn't really have the means growing up to like have the coolest flyest like pieces but now as an adult i've just become more creative in finding like accessories and different like clothes and like color palettes that

i really like but so i've always loved fashion i've always been obsessed with naomi campbell have you do you have any stores that you recommend for people or where you find inspiration um well i don't shop anymore really because of um covid-19 famously famously the global pandemic that has cut me in my house for the last three months. Also, I want to briefly discuss baited, or not really briefly, but now that you mentioned Luann, I've kind of feel like she has to be honest. So I messaged her. She did not respond, but I'm hoping that, you know, as the show grows, that I'm able to

book bigger and better guests. Also, oh my God, I keep forgetting all these things that make us connected. You also are a reality TV stand, am I right? I love you. I love it. I'm a bravo-holic specifically. Oh, my gosh. You must have opinions.

I have strong opinions, yeah. I'm a Bravo Lebrity, you know, try not to get fired right now. Always. And it's funny because, you know, Stasi was fired and Kristen was fired. And then, you know, then you start thinking, like, okay, where does it end? And, like, Luann, that really was, like, two years ago. I know. Or even, like, Glendie Glanville saying that, like, black people couldn't swim.

Exactly. there are a lot of when you start to open the closet and like rifle through the different like demons there's a lot there yeah then like the entire cast of southern charm i mean that show is filmed on a plantation so it's a tough one as someone who's seeing these cancelings what is your opinion like do you think that bravo should go through still like diversity training for everyone I don't, so I don't know if every single person should be fired for being racist or having racist fires, but I do think that there's a really compelling way as a reality TV producer, I'm scoping television producer, to cover it. And like, okay, if Jack says, like, really this demonic guy who, like, says racism stuff, like, put it on the television, let us, like, hate him. I think that there's no need to sugarcoat it for the audience because we're not stupid. So I would actually just like to see the toppling of these bravo. statues personally. I mean, we saw on Real Housewives

of Dallas. Yes. What is her name? Leanne Lachan. Lachan, who basically, like, was extremely racist towards one of the girls being Mexican. She called her a chirpy Mexican. Yeah. Yeah. Yelling at her for being a Mexican.

And the girls at the end got very upset in the reunion. But then stuff came up from, like, Randy Redmond. Totally. The premise of these shows is that we want to watch monstrous people, right? And how many people who are the worst scum of the earth are also happen to be not racist, also happen to support equality? You know, that's, those are two different

circles, I believe. Um, so, so we're kind of, we're, the chickens are kind of coming home to Roos. Exactly, like exactly what we'd expect these people hold as, um, self-evident truths about the world or what they're saying, doing, and practicing. So it shouldn't be surprising yet it is. I don't know. I would like to watch, I would just like to watch, these people get dragged by the producers. Like, stop being mean to Sheena Shea. She seems like a lovely person. Like, just drag.

Yeah, Shishu. We love Chichu. Yeah, we love Chichu. The show wouldn't be there without Shishu. I stand. 100%. Of all the people on Vanner Pump, she's been the nicest to me personally, and I don't forget that kind of shit.

I like her and I like Katie Malone. Katie Maloney. Katie Malone. She's also been so active during this time in speaking. Yeah, I like her. People like to hate on her because she's not too expressive or too giggly. or too joky, but I think she's kind of just real. I think Ariane is guilty of that, too,

where people think she's a downer, but really she just doesn't care to be fake a lot of the time. I think that Katie and Ariana's biggest issue is that they are smart. And I think that it's just a hard, it's hard for that cast in particular to be on the brighter side of that spectrum. Well, you hit the nail in the head before

when you said, like, the casting for reality, they're not TV, they're not picking the people with the most moral. they're picking impulsive loud that's where stasi schroeder has an issue you can be great she's amazing in reality tv because she has so many terrible opinions that she just says all the time and doesn't care what people think and that's fine for reality tv but then you go on your podcast and try to speak from like a preaching standpoint about stuff that you're ignorant about and that's when there's an issue but you're so right like if they fired everyone on reality tv for questionable morals

we would have no one on reality TV. And, you know, the genre wouldn't exist, although I don't know if that's necessarily a bad thing, but it definitely would be the end of what we know on modern television. So can you explain the concept behind Bated how you came up with it? Well, it's just, I mean,

I think it fundamentally is about how uncomfortable I feel at all given times as like a black woman existing in society, constantly having to deal with race and whether someone is talking down to me because of my race or because of my gender or a combination of the two. And so it is my response to like taking back power in my life and saying, you know what,

instead of feeling perpetually uncomfortable about race, I'm going to have really uncomfortable conversations about race so we can all acknowledge the biases that we are carrying as we exist and are socialized in this country. And I think that like no one is beyond reproach, no one is perfect and knows everything there is to know about how to be an upstander. totally moral, not racist person.

And so I think that it's just about bringing to light the fact that we are not perfect and we need to learn each day how to unlearn racist bias. Well, there's something beautiful, too, about you're the one in the interaction. Like, you're not watching two white people try to discuss race. Like, you're almost like holding their hand through it as they're tripping. And being like, we're in it together. But, like, you're fucking up. But, like, we're good.

Totally. I try to be nice just because I really don't want to vilify. anyone for not for not having the perfect answer to quote how many black friends do you have you know that's just a hard question to answer um and there's not necessarily a right answer for that so i'm just well that's a great question because so i went on baited yes and i went on it and i actually had done zero research because i am i just i like i'm always like oh i'm better on the fly and i'll just like but i watched um was it jordan firstman yeah he was first he went from first, and it was a bloodbath, and he didn't start out, but like the comments, and I was just like,

oh, my God, what did I sign up for? And I consider myself, like, from a very diverse community. I grew up in Brooklyn. My mom is, like, head of diversity initiatives in New York City public schools. Like, so when I did baited, I was like kind of cocky. And then during it, I left it feeling just, like, thoughtful, if that makes sense. Good. That's my goal. My goal is to not have anyone to feel bad or crime a goal is for people to learn myself. I learned so much from these conversations, truly. I bet you do. And I even was reading about you as I've, like, went in a deep dive for the last hour. You said how you've been doing it for five years and how you've, you've changed yourself in terms of your own biases and your own kind of knowledge. So you've changed

as a host and how you deal with conversations. Totally. Well, I used to be like right out of college, and I studied African American Studies, poetry and filming college. Right out of college, I'm, you're more radical. I was more radical where I'm like, yes, black and black and white. And like, there's good guys and there's bad guys and there's no in between. And if you are racist, you should be put in jail, you know? And so, like, I've grown up since I was 22 years old. And obviously I see that the world isn't so binary.

And it's not really productive to indict everyone who doesn't agree with you or indict people who don't know what they don't know. And so I think that, so I'm just trying to help people learn and I'm trying to heal, heal people. And hopefully people who watch my videos can feel healing. There's a crisis that comes with watching a white person or a black person or an Asian person, like answer these questions and not be perfect and show the anti-black and like racist bias. But ultimately I want people to go and say, hey, you know, maybe I don't know who Marcus Garvey is. you know maybe i should go like read a book go google him maybe i should go like listen to james baldwin on audiobook like i just want people to explore i just want people to constantly expand their repertoire

of knowledge yes and i do think i love making people uncomfortable maybe it's like why i like reality tv maybe it's like even in this podcast like when we get a little darker i like to ask and i think me and you in general just in normal life i like to have deep fucking conversations totally totally bullshit so i love the idea that you were like, let's get uncomfortable and dig deep, what are some questions inbated that make white women the most uncomfortable? I mean, every question makes everyone uncomfortable.

Let's just start there. And honestly, there's a lot of influence that comes from Andy Cohen on Bravo as far as the questions where he will be like, oh, Susie from Milwaukee thinks you suck. Do you agree? That's like, whoa, that feels like a personal attack written by one of your staff members.

So there's a little inspiration coming from that. But ultimately, I think the most complicated question is, what do you like qualitatively about black people? Yeah. That's a hard question because it's, what do you say? Well, I think I remember you asking me that, and I basically was like, black people, white people, they all have different things. They're all different. And you can't generalize a race qualitatively was like kind of us going, but that is kind of like the safest thing. No, that's a good answer.

And, you know, most people do not say that. I studied, I minored in gender and woman studies at Wisconsin, and that was where I first realized how rhetoric really affects the world. But then you get seen as like a, like, kind of weak in the comedy world. Yes, but also the comedy world is toxic. So. From the comedy world, who are the gatekeepers, white men. But here's the honest to God truth, right? If I am being myself, these, there are people in this community who will not like me for breathing.

They will not like me for eating. They will not like me for looking a certain way. So all I can do is try to protect our community's most vulnerable and be honest and true to what I believe in and what I stand by. So I just don't think I can adjust my personality for people who think it's quote unquote pussy to care about equal rights. It's like, well, you're you're backwards and antiquated and, you know, society is moving away from you. Yeah, and I think there's so many people in the community who still think, like, well, That's, like, one thing I noticed when I started doing stand-up is, like, when a woman would go on stage, like, the men who were watching the other comics would, like, leave. People hate women.

Yeah. And I was like, this is fucking absurd. And that's when I realized there's such an incredible female community and comedy. And I like this idea of just, like, how the gatekeepers kind of have to evolve and change to kind of make everything more diverse and have a more wide range of voices. But I remember booking my first show. at the stand and I ended up booking my friend Matt Richards who's black and also my friend Jordan Fisher who's black and then like it hit me and I was like oh I have two black guys on the show if I had one more is it like a black show now and it's like the fact that I even

thought that is like you never think after two white guys are like oh this is a white guy show now no it's just a comedy show so I feel like the more people that are empowered make those decisions to be like I could be me and just like four black dudes on a show it's just a great comedy show or rather it is about race but it's like a positive attribute right like it's maybe your audience who is like predominantly from bravo maybe have an experience haven't been open to so it's like I think that what you're saying you're saying two things one thing that you're saying it sounds like is that like whiteness shouldn't be the default like a show with five white dudes shouldn't be like that's just a comedy show but a show with five black dudes is like quote and

Exactly. Or if there's too many women, it becomes like a female show. Exactly. And I totally agree. Like, I don't think that we, I don't think that those things should be pejorated. But also, conversely, I think that it's like cool that you put diverse people on your show because it's like, yeah, let's celebrate these cultures. Like, everybody has something to say. And it's like high time that we give people who aren't getting booked on shows an opportunity to make money and like put their voice out there. So it's like a double ed sword because it's like a black, there's nothing wrong with a black show. I just hate the idea of like the token girl on the show or the token, like, black person on the show. And it needs to stop, especially when they're a lot funnier than some of the other comics going on. But I also think when you said it is about race, that's one thing that I hope this movement has helped where growing up, race was like very talked about because I would have in a class with like, you know, there'd be black people, Asians, Muslims, Puerto Ricans.

I had my Puerto Rican friends that I'm going to hang out with Puerto Rican friends. they talk about each other and like race was just talked about but then you go to when i went to wisconsin like race just wasn't spoken about and it was scarier and i hope that like i would say stuff where i'd be like oh um yeah my black friend and they'll be like don't say that and it's like well that's actually you're saying that her being black is negative and i shouldn't say that and that is inherently racist like i hope that people just embrace talking about and acknowledging race more. Yeah, I think that, I think in order to end racism and to heal the disease that is racism in this country, we have to acknowledge that it exists, which is something that is that most people

do not want to do. So I think I agree that that is the bare minimum starting point. That's a bare, yeah, we have to. I went to school in the Midwest as well. And Chicago is an interesting area because, because it inherently, you don't think of the Midwest as like racist. But then when you start to delve a little deeper, you see like, oh, actually like the entire city is segregated by a highway and the black people live over here and the white people live over here so these these issues these places even though they don't talk about race they are they are they are they it's an issue and so yeah i agree you got to talk about it as i've posted more stuff i'm i'm interested in seeing the responses and when someone says something negative you want to like

block them but you're like no this is part of it you have to talk about it and someone responded to me and she's like i hate this like black lives matter agenda trying to make like it look like everyone's racist. And I was just like, okay, I don't even know where to start with having a conversation here because it's like first, yeah, you just have to accept that like white people aren't inherently racist. Racist socially constructed and it tells us that races are different with different value and you have different qualitative, you know, situations that you can kind of control and have power

over different races. So it's hard people just like don't want to be seen as racist. Well, I think it's because like when we go to, elementary school and middle school we're kind of taught racist are bad they wear white hoods don't be that and it's like martleuther king is good he had a speech i have a dream and then it's like end of book end of chapter you guys go on out there and figure it out and obviously that's not like a in-depth look at examination of race in america so i understand who wrote those books right exactly so i understand the the impulse to be to be reviled by examining like wait there are things about me that aren't

perfect like yes exactly but it's like you have to just be have an open heart like you your children will be healthier for this you will be healthier for this the country will be healthier for this so yes yeah how have you been holding up personally like emotionally um I'm exhausted health wise I'm exhausted what are you talking about I'm just like how are you how are you functioning I'm not you texted me at 3 p.m and you said hey are you still wanted to do this podcast and I totally forgot that this was something I agreed to. So I have no idea what day it is. I don't know where I am. All I know is like, I have a show on Thursday, 8 p.m. And it's kind of everything else has learned. Also, I haven't been stalking you. I have been talking to you. I think that's one thing we've

learned from this podcast. But did you jump like a lot in Instagram followers recently? I did. Yeah. Yeah. Like, I mean like 60,000 people. That's, do you know how hard it is to grow on Instagram following? I checked, I think you were like 40K. And then I checked the other day and you're at like 70? Yeah. Yeah, I was at 19, like, two weeks to go through. Zeeway, that's insane. I know, it's so you've in this time had an incredible Vanity Fair article come out.

Like, that's why you're a little bit kind of it girl vibes right now. And you have had, you have had obviously great press in New York Times and W magazine in the past, but this vanity fair article is titled Zeeway has mastered the art of putting white people on the spot. do you like this kind of title you're getting? How do you feel about it? I love the interview. I thought Johanna did a really good job. She's like a fantastic journalist. And I had been following her for years.

So I felt, and she's covered lots of big celebrities. So I felt really honored that she would email me to ask me if I wanted an interview. So I love the interview because I thought it got my points across well. I'm always, whenever I'm talking about my art, I, like, as an artist, you want your art to just speak for itself. because you're like, if I talk about it, will people not understand?

Will people, like, will people be mad or think that my intention is behind it aren't as pure? I'm just trying to, like, support, marginalized people and teach the world and help everyone heal from, like, racism. And so I don't know. I just, it makes me feel good. But hopefully, I don't know. I get nervous doing podcasts because I'm like, oh, my gosh, like, what if I say the wrong thing?

Like, I don't, you know what I mean? It's so funny because in my head, I'm like, she's so smart. she's so well spoken she's so funny i'm like i have to keep up with zwei on this podcast but that's what i love about burning in hell it's like what is your biggest insecurity physically and emotionally let's get a little deeper my biggest my biggest physical insecurity um i don't know i don't know um hmm my biggest physical insecurity boobs maybe i don't know I don't know. But I don't think I would get a boop job.

Maybe I would. But I don't think I would because I'm, like, suspicious of, like, having plastic in my body. I'm, like, kind of earthy. But if there was a way to do it, if I could just magically make them, like, full, I would do that. I feel like I've heard too many nightmare stories of, like, people popping their tit and stuff that I avoid it. But also, do you feel pressure, like, you want to have a bodacious body because of, like, what the media says or something? Well, totally, I mean, I grew up, and I was called, like, chicken legs by my, like, sixth grade science teacher, you know, which is inappropriate. But, and so I just want, I just, like, you, I watch television like everyone else.

I watch movies. I watch on scripted television. I want, like, I want to look hot. So, yeah, but I'm okay with my body. Isn't it wild how, like, the stuff people say when you were in sixth grade about your body still affects you? I know. It's actually so traumatic. Like, a guy called me man arms in sixth grade, and I still, like, can't wear tank tops.

I hope not to forget it. And my friend, Remy, said I had elf ears. And even though my face has grown into my ears, I still will not wear a baseball cap. Really? Well, because I feel like they're pointing out of it. Well, don't let that stop you. Live your life, man. I know.

I have to fight for the Yankees. Fight for the Yankees. Go socks. Go Red Sox. Oh, God. Oh, yeah. That's the one thing that me and you do not agree on, but we won't even go there. Yeah, we don't have to talk about the Patriots.

We don't talk about the Patriots. So, fuck the Patriots. So, also, what about your personality? Do you have any insecurities of how people have critiqued you as a vibe? I mean, what's an insecurity about my personality? I think I have a good personality. I find myself very charming, and I think, I make myself laugh. But also, I mean, I think, I don't know.

I'm like trying to hate myself. Wait, let me think. Do people ever critique you for, like, being too, Chad? Oh, sure. Yeah. I mean, people who, I mean, I remember really, really acutely in college, someone saying to me that they thought, like at a lunch table, at a dining hall, she said to me, I think you're annoying and I don't know why you speak. But to me, I, no, but like, I don't, I don't take that personally. I think that that is her projecting what she hates about herself. I think that she ultimately probably sees my face and either doesn't remember saying it or thinks that, you know, just doesn't remember this moment. But I can't forget it. So, so yeah, I tell. I try to forgive. It's really important for me as like, like, I'm really kind of earthy. So I believe that like forgiveness is for yourself and it helps you, like, grow and heal and not carry, like, poison in your body.

So, like, there are things that make me that people have said that it insults in my personality, but I try to let go. I'm not perfect, but I try. Yeah, it's like detaching from anger because anger is just like a toxin. It just, it's for, it hurts you. Like, forget these people. They don't even probably remember being mean to me. And you went to school in a predominantly white high school and college?

Yes. But I went to school in like a very brown middle school elementary school. Okay. So you actually knew like how to compare the experiences. Oh, totally. It was just like a culture shock to go from like an inner city of Lawrence, Massachusetts to like this prep school. It's wild. And how do you think your experience would, or like you would have been different if you didn't go to a predominantly white high school?

who's to say I know it's a pretty there's a lot of variables yeah exactly I've always been an overachiever so that that would be the same if I had stayed at my public school

if I had gone to prep school but who's to say I would have the connections who's to say I would have the same outlook on life I think I have an acute analysis of race because of my experiences in a lower income neighborhood and then in like a super high income neighborhood so I think that

right so I'm really thankful for those experiences because I'm able to critique, like, American society in a really unique way. I also think that you kind of understand white culture because you've been so immersed in it. So that's why I think baited is so great, because you know how to, like, relate to white girls and be able to talk to them while also, like, still understanding the bigger picture. Well, I just ultimately, I come from a place not of, like, judgment and criticism, but, like, oh, I actually know a lot of girls who remind me of Carolina, remind me of Allison. you know so i instead of instead of being ultra judgmental i'm going to try to ask questions

that really get at the root of why people why why some of the things that they may have said are not exactly are more problematic or more racist than they ever even imagine that they were oh you're so right you're so right you guys if if you aren't written to this conversation go to youtube check out baited um i love the one everyone with sydney washington it was hilarious I also love the one with Pat. Oh, yeah. That one is really funny where he's like, it's like, it's like lost my space.

Yeah. So funny. He's so funny. He's so funny because he was so emotional during it. Some people during your interviews, I feel like, get really tense and scared. Some are like overly cocky. Some, like, try to fool with you. Yeah.

And you're like, honey, you're playing in my office. Yeah. Getting a little deeper into you, what is your way of sabotaging yourself? How do I self-sabotage? Well, I'm a control freak. I am so controlling. And my life has been one long design. So I feel like I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing

and wanted to be doing at, you know, age five. But as a result, it's like you have to let go and let God. Like you can't, you can't strong arm your way into the position that the universe is going to put you in. So that's how I self-sabotage, where I'll try to control an email. And if people don't respond in 42 minutes, then I am going to.

And it's just like, dude, you need to relax, bruh. I always say on this podcast, when I decided that my only goal each day was basically to not be depressed, things started to kind of just fall for me. Because I wasn't like so focused on, yeah, the micro controlling of little things and little events. Did I book this gig? Did I get that? But as a type A person, it's hard to find that balance. It's hard to find that balance. But ultimately, like, we only have one life to live, so we really have to treat ourselves with the kindness that we treat our friends, right?

Like, you would never talk shit to your friend and be like, oh, you lazy piece of shit, why haven't you gotten this thing that you should have gotten because you just found out it existed 30 minutes ago? It's like, no. So you wouldn't talk to your friend like that, so don't talk to yourself like that. Oh, you didn't book that gig, because you suck. Yeah, exactly. Because you suck. And you don't deserve it. Exactly.

So I try to be kind to myself. I'm not perfect, but I tried it. I try. And you said that you've been kind of manifesting and wanting to do this since you were five. Totally. How did you know? I wanted to be, when I was five years old, I wanted to be two things. I wanted to be a pop star and the president of the United States.

And I feel like where I am right now is a good combination of having a good combination of politics and like critiquing like American culture while also like doing my music and being silly and like wearing risque clothes if I want to or covering myself up. if I want to. Like, I just kind of live my life. You're a hundred percent nailed it. Yeah. You nailed it.

You're a perfect combination of presenting and talking about politics, but you're not like a boring politician. Yeah. Well, thank you. I hope not. I don't think I could be a good politician because I feel like someone is, my, my therapist once told me to run for office, but I think I would be like, my feelings would get hurt. I'd be like, what do you guys mean?

You don't like me. I'd be like so hurt. When I was younger, I actually would tell people I want to be president, but not for real like I didn't really I didn't know a lot about politics yeah if a guy asked me for like a nude I'd be like sorry I'm me present one day so I can't honestly fair and I just like to flip that power you know no we stand I don't be fucking president don't you realize you idiot as a type A person yeah do you have bad anxiety do I do I have anxiety I do have anxiety I really recent that I realized that recently that I had anxiety because I was like why am I stressed it's like oh no you just have anxiety

Because, again, I have, like, control issues that stand from random traumas when you're, like, a kid. So I just, like, yeah, I need to be in control and I feel anxious when I'm not in control. But I'm learning to let go. How has that affected your, like, relationships? Have you had any boy toys recently? No. Famously, someone broke up with me during my Caroline Calloway interview, who I was not dating. I know, isn't that funny?

But no. He texted you during it? Yeah, he did. But my point, yeah, isn't that so mean? But no, I have horrible dating track record. I think I'm a hard person to date if you feel threatened by women's success. Truly. Real same.

Yeah. Like, I'm just a hard person to date because I'm really strong in my convictions. And, like, I'm not going to, like, minimize my success because of an ego. And also, I don't have a lot of time to, like, nurture someone in the way that maybe they want to. But, so, yeah. Yeah, I always, I was actually watching a documentary with Dr. Dre. and I found out that him and his wife got divorced and him and his wife are the reason why I broke up

with my ex-boyfriend a couple years ago. That's wild. It was actually a comic, but I was watching the documentary and she basically was like, if you're dating an artist like Dr. Dre, you have to be a rock and he's a balloon and he's going to fly wild and you have to just be the rock. And I'm sitting next to this comic I was dating

and I was like, I'm not a fucking rock. Yeah. Like I'm not. Yeah. And I like remember having a. freak out like this is going to be my future and I don't know maybe that woman woke up and was like I'm not a rock anymore I'm gonna throw the rock in his glass house and I'm out got a tip I I broke up with someone once because of um 90 day fiance um seriously because because what happened was I was

watching 90 day fiance and I saw this person like travel to like Nigeria for their love and I was like I can't even get my my boyfriend my ex-boyfriend to leave greenpoint to see me like I can't even get up to pick up my calls like what am i doing so yes i'm deeply influenced by media which is a shame of mine and i do think reality tv does have those golden purist realist moments and they come in small batches but every now and then something happens in reality tv that like shakes you totally i mean definitely because you start to see yourself have you watched summerhouse yet of course i've watched i so i haven't watched every episode but i've watched a lot of it mostly because because you're on it.

Oh, thank you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I remember when the girls were fighting with you because you were hooking up with Luke. Also, I was shocked by the sex sounds. I had texted you. I was like, are those your real sex sounds? Like, oh, my God.

Like, I could not believe it. I'm trying to normalize female sexuality and expressing pleasure. That you do, man. Oh, I have one final question. Sure. You're, before we do a final game, your parents are from Nigeria.

Yes. What the fuck do they think of you? being like I want to be a pop star um they were like that's they were like no were they were they first generation yes no I mean yeah they emigrated okay so did you have to like convince them or is it kind of like a just misunderstanding that you live with well I don't know if you know this but I'm not not actually a pop star see in my head you're a comedy pop star are they okay with you in the comedy world, I mean, you have writing gigs on TV, you've been very successful, but are they happy with it now? I don't think they have a strong concept of what I do for a living,

honestly. Really? Do you care? Like, you want them to understand, or you're kind of like, this is better? You know, I don't feel strongly either way. I think I've always, I mean, my parents, I've always, I've, this is my life. And so I've, I don't live for outside external validation. Um, so if they got it and they were like, into it i'd be like cool but i i i just it's not i don't know it's hard to explain most comics like only perform for external validation i understand that i mean i perform the things that i do make me laugh it's actually really annoying like at my job when we back when we used to have like a writer's room like you'd catch me just laughing to myself and they'd be like josh gondelman would be

like suey why are you laughing and it'd be and he'd be like oh because it's you wrote a joke that you thought was funny i'd be like yeah like so i really try um to make my i just i really try to make myself. Well, it sounds like you have your own purpose and you have your own, like, yeah, humor with yourself. So it sounds like you really can't, and maybe the fact that you are a control freak, it keeps you happy because you can control how you feel. And if you're not scared about everyone else, you'd blow your brains out. Totally. I mean, and I am, I'm not perfect. Like, obviously you see a Twitter comment that's like, wow, Zeeway should cut her hair. It's like, oh my gosh. Like, I'm holding scissors to my bangs as we speak, you know? So it's not like I'm perfect.

but I definitely, I really, really try hard because it's like, again, it's like, I can't control what people think of me, but I can control what I think of myself. Bless the fuck up. It's time to play our final game. You're doing amazing called The Seven Deadly Sins. Seven Deadly Sins. What are you greedy about Z-Way? Knowledge.

I'm greedy about knowledge. I wish I could read a book. book a day. That's a place where I would love to get. But I don't know if I'll ever get there, but I wish I could, I wish I knew more. Like I just so fucking smart. Thank you. But I, for knowledge is unquenchable. No, but like legit. Because it's just like, like, I just wish I could read more books. Um, I just wish I could be smarter so I could help more people and so I can help myself. Um, yeah. Do you ever feel like with comedy, the mainstream comedy is like more not basic but I don't know like you have a little more highbrow humor or more intellectual humor

do you ever feel like shoot if I dumb myself down I might get more like widespread attention I definitely have when I was younger and more immature I thought like oh I don't know if people would understand where I'm coming from but I think that there's a way to make things that are high concept like conversations about race during like a cult racial reckoning palatable to masses of people it takes actually a lot of like discernment and reading and like understanding of the world so i think that there's ways to be in super intellectual in like broad spaces you just have to be patient and work on finding your audience because again i've been doing this stuff for years i've been talking about race for years but finally after after work like finally after graduating like 2014 i've been

able to just like come into my own but it wasn't it wasn't like an overnight success No, that's why it makes me so happy to see you, like, having kind of a moment blowing up right now on Instagram because you've, I remember watching Bated right after you interviewed me just because I'm like, this is a fun thing she's been doing and thinking how good the content was. And the views were like, okay, but I was like, it was like, it was like, wow, you guys hateers. I get more views on my tweets. I know. So to see you have, like, put in all this work and then to just see that you're getting attention for it just makes me happy because it just shows. like hard work, passion, shit happens eventually. Yeah, I think Kendrick Lamar has this lyric in his song element where he says,

careers take off, just got to be patient. So I listen to that a lot and be like, okay, like it may not happen for me today, but maybe someday or maybe not. Who knows? Honestly. I love how you connect, like, music and pop stars with your inspiration. I don't know about you, but I'm obsessed with watching musician autobiography. Oh, say.

Oh, I love, love. There's a connection with comedians and, like, wanting to be rock stars with, like, the Whitney Houston documentary, the Lala, the Lady Gaga documentary. I even watched the George Brooks documentary. Oh, my gosh. It was actually, I actually fucking love Gordh Brooks. Oh, my God, that's absurd. I love it. It's incredible.

But, yeah, you see them on stage and just, there's a weird connection between comedy and pop stars that you found. Well, I think that every comedian wants to be musical and every musician wants to be funny. you're so right you're so right and the ones that I think find that like connection of the two are always incredible whenever you go to a concert and in between they're like talking shit

and you see their personality shine it like makes you feel so much more connected oh absolutely absolutely but I should never sing on stage because I have oh really you have just take some voice classes I'm sure you have a voice somewhere in there my mom's a literal like jazz singer really? Yeah oh my god

But I am. Yeah, she's a badass and I'm just, I just clap. I support. I support. That's awesome. Who are you envious of? Who am I envious? So I don't think envy is healthy, but to play the game, I am envious of Rihanna because of the way her face is so symmetrical. And she's also a February Pisces like myself. So I just feel really deeply connected to her like, don't give a fuck attitude. Like, I just think she's cool as hell.

So I'm not actually... I have music so bad in a very selfish way. Like, I know she's building her, like, brand and her mental health or whatever. I want a song just for me. But I think that she gave us a lot of ante, and we have to be thankful. Yes, I know. But, yeah, I've never seen someone with that kind of attitude. I actually, I used to play tennis tournaments in the West Indies a lot.

Yeah. And she's from Barbados. Yeah. And the Bayesian people would always be like, oh, my God, Rihanna was so annoying. She would just run around and, like, sing all the time. And everyone was like, shut up. Oh my gosh. They're jealous. Yeah.

And then she blew the fuck up. Jelly. I love her. I love her out of deeply, deeply, deeply. I love her too. What do you gluttonous about? Does this everything great? This is like, what do you overindulge in?

I overindulge in Housewives. Okay. Okay. Which is your favorite? My favorite Housewives, that's hard because it depends on the era. Because I was introduced to real Housewives through Beverly Hills and watching the dissolution of the Kim Richards and Kyle Richards' friendship. relationships. Have you written a thesis on this by any chance? I could. I don't know why, like,

the New Yorker hasn't reached out to me to be like, do you want to write about like Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? Because I could. I do. I mean, you are very busy, but I do think you doing recaps would be incredible. I know. I tried to do a recap of Real Housewives of Potomac for Vulture, but they just weren't, they weren't picking it up. But I love Potomac. Potomac, I think, is the hottest right now. Yeah. But Beverly Hills and it's hitting. I'm like kind of new to the housewives stuff. But. New York just reminds me of, like, a lot of my friend's parents. Yeah.

And it just is, like, too close to home for me. Totally. I feel like that's like loud, drunken New York women. But then Beverly Hills is so different in the culture and the fashion and how they, like, fight and how they speak to each other and pools and the mansions. Yeah. No, totally. I love Beverly Hills for that reason.

It just feels like, she, she, she, she, she, like, it feels so posh. Even though it's like a house of cards, I'm like, yes, give me like $25,000. glasses yeah exactly and the stuff they get offended by in beverly hills new york would say like 20 times in a conversation no one would bat an eye exactly exactly because well but i think that the beverly hills girl if they were mixed with the new york girls they would cry they would be bullied to the until they quit the show whereas if new york went to beverly hills they would they would absolutely run over those girls yeah because the new york yeah it's such a different vibe would you ever move to l a yeah i would move to l a for sure. I like L.A. I'm in L.A.

Like, my entire personality is based off of the film Clueless. So I would move to the Beverly Hills, Bel Air, in a heartbeat, but I'm a new... I can see that for you. But I do think in conversation, like, you're real. Not to, like, everyone L.A. is fake, but, like, you have the New York kind of, like, you're not afraid to make people uncomfortable. Totally. If I could make my living in, like, in New York, I would, but I'm down for L.A. yeah i always say like i want to live in new york but like have projects in a life when was the last time you experienced extreme wrath or anger experience extreme wrath

anger do you i do so i am like very closed up emotionally i'm emotionally repressed but then there is a moment where i flip a switch and it is like shocking to everyone including myself why do you think you're emotionally repressed well just because it's like you kind of have to repress your emotions to be like a functioning black woman in society. Because if you express yourself in either like extreme too much, people think you're like hysterical or they think that you're an angry black woman. So it's like I've just learned to function in a society that just would prefer that I am without any expression. Wow. Yeah, isn't that deep? Tough, right? Yeah. No, that's what I want to hear because it's so true that you like would feed into a stereotype. But

then I think a lot of people because they know they're expected to act a type of way will sometimes just be like, fuck it. You to say I'm the kid who misbehaves, look, I'm misbehaving. You're happy now. Well, that's like Amarosa, right? On like reality TV where she's like, you guys want a black guy? Oh, I'll give you a little. And she goes on to have like a decade's long career.

So it has value to some people. Yeah. But like I just try to, I just want to conserve my energy and I want to spread goodness to the world. So, yeah. But that's why I think Bade is so interesting because with, all the like tension and awkwardness you have this like calm light energy to you that makes it just like not what people would think the conversation would be oh thank you yeah i hope that it feels

positive it doesn't feel negative i left the whole time okay good thank you thank you i also smart so as like someone who like i love interviewing people i like to see how you handle what you've created the key is to just my i think the my interviewing tip for that show know how I do it is I listen to what they say and I take even the grade of emotional truth that they're coming from and I try to relate and then I try to question in a way that feels not judgmental but like helpful. Listening is the most important part of a good interview and yet you'll you'll read things about them and be able to like like I feel like by the end of the Caroline Calloway thing you had gotten so deep into her psyche I'd go there like the real world when was the last time you

were like a lazy piece of shit like a sloth? Not recently. I've mourned for the days that I was lazy. I'm lucky enough, I'm so blessed. I have a lot to do just because I want to get all the there is to do before I like die. So I'm just trying to like

keep my life busy. But I cannot wait for the day where I can like go to the beach and sit and do nothing and not respond to an email. I log for that. I miss it. And maybe take some content. Yeah. Take content at the beach. Take content at the beach that's work

but just one one little vibe like one vibe shop no that's work yeah I know you're right this is just my brain I never stop never stops I was whatever anyway summer to me is work you know what I'm in the summer house now

I am not right now I can't wait I actually was thinking about auditioning for summer house at one point oh my god you'd be so good I know but I think the ship has sailed unfortunately but there was a moment where I was like should I do this? I know you're like now I've like blown up for legitimate reasons

but no I love summer house you'd be great on summer house because it is about like I always say reality TV's matured me because I'm forced to be in social situations I never would like voluntarily put myself in totally well there's a lot of pressure

to look at yourself in the mirror and be like why did I react this way when I'm drunk like oh my God seeing myself drunk would be the hard part well that's one thing that people forget about the show was like a lot of the time we're hammered like when when I was giggling during kyle's speech we'd been drinking for five hours yeah that wasn't just being rude like I just we're hammered yeah totally that that would be scary for me it's but yeah I have like a on camera junk and off camera drunk we're on camera junk I'm always like a little aware where off camera junk

I will just who cares what's happening it's it's fun um this is a tough one when was the last time you let your pride get in the way of something like your ego let my pride get I try not to let my I try not to cut my nose to spite my face that's one of my favorite sayings what was the last time I let my pride get in the way of something that was good whether it's career friendship dating I mean maybe like not responding like we're not responding to a text message when it's like I you know the best idea is to be vulnerable but I would rather like save my pride and just like be the cool one who like doesn't respond to a text for a week which turns into two weeks which turns into a month which turns into or we're never speaking again so i've definitely had those moments yeah i'm the same way like i have a lot of pride with guys but then part of me's like if it's really meant to be i feel like me not responding to a text or me acting a little cold yeah like i feel like our energies hopefully would find each other regardless but i'm still single like you i feel like our dating is pretty similar so that's well totally but here's the thing i it's that's twofold right because on the one hand And it's like, I don't need, I don't want to ever feel like I need some, a partner to

complete me, right? They want to, I want them to be an addition to my life. So, so in that regard, it's like, I'm trying not, I'm trying to just be cool with like being single because it's like, you know, this, I'm the, I'm the best person to love me as Demi Lovato sets. But then on the other hand, you know, but then on the other hand, it's like, yeah, man, like when you're sleeping by yourself and you're like, wow, like, damn, like, I'm really horny or like, I wish I had a hug, like, fuck.

so it's give or take yeah and i think i've gone to the point finally i'm like 28 now where i'm single and enjoying my career and i just don't like when guys distract me yeah or if they don't have positivity and good energy it's like if you're questioning it it's like i don't need that totally i don't like to play games i think i'm too old for that i think there's not enough time on this earth for games how about that true true not enough time for anything um and perfect last question. Why was the last time you lusted over someone? Every day. Do you have like a celebrity crush you're obsessed with or like a guy at the bodega?

I have, um, yes. I'm really, really attracted to Robert Patterson. I just think he's a fantastic actor. I love his art. Is there a specific movie that you're into him? Uh, I, Twilight, um, him in Rover, him in Goodtime, him in, like, I love, like, the Cosmopolis, like I'm a Robert Panson, Stair. And his accent, too, on top of it. I just think he's a fantastic actor or someone who appreciates his craft. I love his interviews with, like, GQ, I think that they're just kind of, like, spellbound. I just, I think he sounds too.

He has, like, a mystery and a swag about him. Totally. I'm, I ship it. I ship it. Well, I think he has a girlfriend or something. so don't please i mean it goes it's what is dating nowadays everyone's either getting pregnant or breaking up just in the quarantine i don't trust anyone um to wrap this up i ask this question to everyone and i'm very interested in your answer what do you do to cope with your hell

what do i do to cope with my hell yeah like what advice would you give to people who are going through hell right now oh be kind to yourself always be kind to yourself because you wouldn't treat your friend like shit so don't treat yourself like shit that's That's the best advice I ever got and the best advice I'll ever give. And as someone who's type A, you're probably prone to being really hard on yourself and you think that's like positive for you. But then you realize like if you're the one that can make the decision to just be happy and it's not like you being lazy.

Yeah, I think ultimately you can always be patient with yourself. You deserve it. You only have one you. So be as good as you're going to get. You're great. Oh, you're so positive. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to come to hell. Zeeway, where can people follow you?

Where can people read about you? Where can people listen to you, watch you? Well, follow me on Instagram at Zway F. Follow me on Twitter at Zway. I have my weekly live show on Instagram. Last week, I interviewed Rose McGowan, so check that out if you can. And this week, I'm going to be interviewing Jeremy O'Harris and Dana Dominole. So it's going to be a good time.

So exciting. Lastly, now that you're getting a lot of attention, for this. Do you feel any differently about the project? Do you keep your head down and like, I think I'm just, there's excitement. I think I'm honestly just focusing on the work. I don't want to ever be like someone who like let's, I don't want to like, yeah, I'm just trying to focus on the work and try to make the best product and trying to help as many people as I can. I love that. I'm so excited to see what more you create. Everyone follows you a Z-I-W-E-F on Instagram, Twitter. And thanks for coming to hell. We'll talk to you.

later. Perfect. Bye. Bye.