The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Dulcé Sloan on Hope: After the Cut | Extended Interview with Sasha Colby

Episode Date: May 6, 2023

"People don't talk about how hard hope is." In After the Cut, Dulcé Sloan shares the role her mother played in her becoming a comic, and how holding on to hope has been the biggest challenge throughout her career. And legendary drag performer, Sasha Colby, talks about her experience winning "RuPaul's Drag Race," how anti-drag laws are a roundabout way of criminalizing trans people, and why she wants to be an example of a happy trans woman in a media landscape that tends to focus only on trans people's trauma.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. What is, what would you say, your biggest challenge has been getting you to where you are hurt? Oh, uh, hope. People don't talk about how hard hope is. To live in that place where you're like, it's going to happen tomorrow, it's going to happen tomorrow, it's going to happen tomorrow, it's going to happen tomorrow, is a very hard place for people because sometimes it lets you go, I can't, I quit. So a lot of them so I've been doing stand-up since 2009 but I've been acting since I

was a kid and I've been singing since I was a kid and I have a theater degree but y'all know me as a comic and a co-scomic as, so now all of thia' their work that I do and I used to do musicals I did all of these other things, but y'all know me as a comic and a correspondent on the show. So now all of these things I did since I was seven years old, I have to now reintroduce everybody too. But if I had lost hope and didn't start, because I started doing stand-up because somebody told me I was a comic. It wasn't something I me that I didn't see in myself. And so that was the biggest challenge for me to go, okay, I have a theater degree, I've

never been on stage and been myself and said my own words. So getting into stand up was one of the hardest things for me because I'd never been myself on stage. I knew how to perform. I knew how to find my light, I know how to plant my feet, I knew all of the trappings. I'd done on stage 900 seat theater with no microphone and sang to the back of a room. I can perform, but not as me. So that was the hardest part of the whole process going, okay, I have to be dulcet.

So that was the hardest part in that and also listening to my mother. Because a comic told me in 2007 that I should do stand-up and I didn't listen to him. But I started when I was supposed to. You see what I'm saying? So you get things when you're supposed to, which is always hard to hear. But in 2009 I, I, once again on an unemployment, look at God, and I was taking a sketch comedy class and I got laid off from a job and the comic Big Kenny is like, again, come take my stand-up class. And I was like, Unk, I don't have a job. I can't afford the $300 class.

And he's like, you're supposed to do this. I won't charge you for the class. And then I couldn't decide what to do. And my mother told me, because Big Kenny had been inviting us to shows for two years. He's like, you have to do this, you have to do this. I was like, no, no, no, I'm good. And then then. And then. And then. And then. And then. And then. And then. And then. And then. And then. And then. And then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then. And then. And then. And then, and then. And then, and then. And then, and I. And the. And the. And the. And the. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And, and I. And. And, and I. And, and I. And. And. And, and I. And. And. And, and I. And. And, and I. And. And. And, and I. And, and I. And, and I. And. And, and then, the. And the. And the. And the. And then, the then, then, the then, then, then, then, then, then, then, then, the the the the the the the the the the to. And she didn't understand what it meant. She was like, why are people laughing at my daughter? I don't understand what's going on. What did she do? And then she said she prayed on it,

and she was like, oh, my daughter's a comedian. So because of my mother, and I didn't talk about this for a long time, because he used to piss comics off. When I took a stand-up class and my mother, my choice to do stand-up. A lot of comics don't get that feedback from their family. And so I did it and so May 12th will be my stand-up anniversary and if someone can do math, that's what, 14, 15 years? Thank you, Grazias. I went to school in Georgia, so I don't know what you want from me. But Gwinnett County, so you know, I did okay, but you know, I can't, the sixes and multiplication are funky. And so yeah, on the 12th, it'll be 14 years, but I there were a lot of things from just like,

I'm not sure. I moved to LA with suitcases. And now I'm moving, you know, and it's like, so now you're moving, it's, you have to just go, I will be okay. But for me, the hardest part is hoping is I want to be a mother and have children and I don't have that in my life. So the same hope that I applied to work, I now have to figure out to apply to this other this this this this this other this other this other this other this other this other this other this other this other. , and this other this other this other to this other thing. And that's even harder. Because I knew what to do to be successful in my career. I don't know how to hog tie some man.

So, and that's when I, the Lord gave me my ministry, of no more broke dick. And, um, so yeah, I'm a... The hardest part of any of this is hope because you have to believe in you more than anybody else and you have to love you when it just came up on the screen, I almost tear it up, and I was like, no, you have makeup one. Don't do it. Don't do it, because no one's going to bring you any tissue. Listen, I'm so excited for you. America's next drag superstar! Congratulations, Sasha Colby. Now, tellell me you're in your winning era. Definitely.

Definitely. Definitely. And early I was the Sasha Colby meeting greet. Period. And if you weren't watching the show and don't catch that you need to get your life together. How does it feel? Oh my goodness it's two weeks since I won and it's like still like integrating in me like I haven't realized that I actually won the big one like I cut the biggest fish that you could and it hasn't clicked yeah I know like it'll be random I'll be like on a plane I'll be like oh I did it like I did it like I like I'm like I did it like I'm I'm like I did it like I'm like I did it like I to to thousand to the the the the the the th you like th you like th you like th you like to to th you like to to to to to to to to to to the to the to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th the the the the the the the the the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I was, someone asked me yesterday, it was like, so how does it feel to be hosted a daily show?

And it didn't click for me until about 4 p.m. yesterday? Because I've been like, move it and I was like, the time delay. The time delay. The time delay. Oh shit, I'm hosted a daily show. So I know exactly how you feel from when when when when when when when I was, I was, I was, I was, I was, I'm, I'm, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th, th, th, th. th, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's thi. that's thi. thi. thi. got here. I was like, they're asking me all these questions. I'm like, oh shit, I'm hosting a date. Oh, I'm supposed to know the answer. I'm supposed to know the answer to these questions.

So it's like, listen, now I know the running joke. We to tell you all on the show because you are a legend and you have to appreciate her as a legend. Goddess, she's goddess. Greatness sees greatness. Absolutely. So tell the children what it was like to be legendary and then be out here with the children.

Well, I mean, I am mother. So I deal with a lot of kids. Right. A lot of kids come in and out of the way. But I must say the group of girls, the group of drag performers that we were with that I got to be so blessed to compete with were such amazing girls. Like, literally the best cast I could ever dreamt to be with. Okay, I know. But, legend.

They all knew, you know. I mean, that's why they all stood up for the meeting greet. I mean, like, listen, because I remember when you walked in the room, I don't know if you've ever seen shock and awe before, but I'm talking about face cracked, jaws dropped. I literally saw somebody go, phew. And I think you can hear a Nietzsche go, should we all go home now? Because you walked in the room and it's like,

do we, should we even try? And I'm glad the delusion was hitting hard and they did try. I mean, I'm glad next to me, you know, I want to beat the best. I mean, it could respect that because Anitra was not playing when it came to the lip-seed, just freewilling. No, ma'am. If you did not see the towar, freewilling moment, because Anitra was not playing with anybody.

That's why the whole season I was just like, please, please put Sasha and Anitra together. Television is not ready. They have to compete together. Yes, I mean, after that Lala Perusa that we did. I mean, that was like a final two number right there. It had to happen. It had to happen because the drag delusion was real. We all suffered from it a little.

Some more so than others. Mother, this on the... Like now y'all know for real, like I've watched the show. I was a judge on Rupail's Drag Race like last season, like two seasons, and I was like, it has been my dream forever to be a judge on that show. So I'm waiting, listen, they're gonna put you on All Stars. Also our winners! I'm waiting, listen, they're gonna put you on All Stars, they're going to. Also it's all winners. Also, I winters! Now, because you are legendary, because you are mother, we need to know about the journey.

So I do want to know that you're the first Hawaiian queen to take the crown. Yes, actually I think I'm the first Hawaiian queen to compete. Oh, that's true. Actually made the show, yeah. There's been other Polynesian girls, but I, the first representing Hawaii. Praise God. So how is your Hawaiian heritage shaped you as a trans woman? Oh, well, I think being any indigenous culture, there is the third sex, there is this level of non-binary that was always known and spoken about before you know... Colonization. Christianity, all that.

Love you Christians. Love you too. Love yourselves. Anyway, that's the realty. How are you gonna love anybody else? I mean read the word. That's not the point. You're gonna be so mad at me. That's not the point. Tangents. Tangents. Tangents. Tangents. Tangents. Tangl. that's. That's. That's. That's. That's. That's. That's. That's. That's. That's. the. the. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the that's. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the that's. Col colonization. Cololon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. Colon. I mean, read the word. That's not the point. You're gonna be so mad at me. Tangents, tangents. Truly, tangent chal's. What was the question? How is it? We both got distracted. Because you were so pretty and this jacket and shiny

and I like shiny things. I was asking you how how how how how heritage shaped you as a trans woman? Well, like I was saying before, I'm interrupted myself. In any indigenous culture, there was space for trans and non-binary folk, and they were integral parts of our society in every indigenous culture you can find. So my transness is in my blood, it's in my DNA. It's what has been going on since before any man-made religion, any of these standards that we hold ourselves to,

any male woman, all of that. That's just a way to oppress, you know, a way to keep in line, a way to segregate everybody. And that's why I feel it's so important to be really into your culture, to figure out your culture, because we are always programmed to believe what our parents need us to believe instead of what is actually going through our veins in our DNA and our blood.

Right. And then with the society at large wants you to believe, because if we go by mainstream society, then, oh, none of us would be able to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be a to be to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to believe because if we go by mainstream society then uh... none of us would be able to dance no ma'am i definitely would have been able to show my tits on national television and we all needed that i mean we all needed that and real teet like I was like everyone saw like a great competition in Sasha Colby but all my friends were like they didn't even see Sasha Colby naked naked They didn't even see Sasha Colby at naked, drunk, at brunch. You know, rolling around half naked.

I think you showed us so much. I think only doctors would need to see any more of you. Not a cough. I mean, listen, if I closed my eyes and they were like, okay, Sasha Colby is missing. I'm like, all right, don't you worry. It might have to identify by our titties, but I got you. Do you worry. Or, you know, identified by booty.

Hey, listen, cuss, that thing is thiger. Mermaid. And as someone who thang also be thang and listen. Thang and recognize, thang. Yes! Yes! Now, as women of color, especially, we always have to worry about representation, right? And I know you want to be an example of a happy, trans person in the media. Why is that important to you?

Well, all that media has been concerned with a lot of the time is telling the transition story, telling the trauma, telling the effect that it did on the family, but not showing why we go through all that and how happy, like being so adamant about making yourself feel comfortable in your own skin. That's the whole reason why we do the transition. It isn't to like hurt or harm or traumatize our families or anyone else, it is is is to be to be their, it is, it is, it is, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, thea, thea, thea, thea, thea, tr-a, tr-a, tr-a, their, tr-a, tr-a, the tr-a, the the the the the the the the tr-a, the the the trauma, the trauma, the trauma, the trauma, the trauma, the trauma, the trauma, the trauma, the trauma, the triiii, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, thi. Ande, te, te. Ande. And, tte. Ande. I's-s. I's-s. truea-s.e.a-s. trueau-s. trueau-s. trueau-s. trueau-s. te. tte. ttt why we do the transition. It isn't to like hurt or harm or traumatize our families or anyone else. It is to be our true happy cells. And we are missing that a lot. That was true. And I don't want it to get like misconstrued that I want to be a representation of only

I'm a happy trans person. There are so many happy, well-adjusted-a-trans people, but you only see us getting murdered and... Yes. So to be able to normalize the fact that you probably have come into contact with three or four trans people every day and not even know it. Because we are everywhere and we're not going anywhere. Wors. Well, I can definitely understand that because being, you know, a woman of color and a plus-size

woman of color in this industry, you spend a lot of time, it's like, oh, well, your plus size you must be unhappy and it's like, no, I'm not. Also I'm very pretty. The skinny girls are unhappy. They're hungry. The skinny girls are hungry, but they're very hungry. Girl I was at a diner at 3 a.m. and I saw this drunk white girl eating a salad and I'm like, that's not what you want. That's not what anyone wants.

You want to friars. You were drunk at 3 a thrown, why are you eating lettuce? Eat the fries, girl. You were in a truck s saqa'a' thr-d. Now, I have to ask this question, because we know we have to ask this question. Now, you won drag race at a time, where drag is being politicized for absolutely no reason. What do you think they're really trying to do? Well, I mean, the, the legislation, I don't want to be like political and say like this, this, I mean, this, I mean, this, I mean the the legislation, I don't want to be like political and say like this, I mean, you know, the conservatives, the conservatives, you know,

they're out here acting a donkey, right. Yeah. It's always about these white men kind of try to control people's bodies. Right. So they're there were doing, you know, controlling women's reproductive rights, controlling our medicine, like a basic human right of giving trans people and like even like anyone, good health care. So it's always about controlling and I always noticed that these guys, they're not really killing a lot of like trans men. There's a lot of trans women being murdered. That's because these men objectify trans women as much as they objectify ciswomen. Yes.

So once they objectify you and you're living your truth, they get so mad because they're, one, jealous that they're not living their truth. And two, because it makes them question, why do I like this? But why do you have to question that? Why does that even even that even that even that even that even that even that even th th th th th th th th th th th th th because it makes them question, why do I like this? But why do you have to question that? Why does that even have to be a thing? So for all of them, I think they just want to be in drag. Or they probably went in drag, and then they look awful? Santos.

Listen, you hop in drag, you find out you're a booger. Bitter, bigger. And you're like like, you like, you like, you like, you like, you like, you like, you like, you like, you like, you like, you likeitter bitter bigger I mean and you're like you know This free trust wig might not be from she couldn't find a mother she couldn't find him they said no lost cause Now what all you see P S this is the cps oh my goodness nothing like calling CPS on a 45 year old man Like not on his children children, sir, on you, you need adult supervision. Uh, this is true. So with all these anti-drag bills as they're starting to pass places, has that affecting where you can work?

Uh, yes, I'm a little nervous to go to Tennessee, and I do have a booking there in like a month or so. You could be committing crime. I mean, technically, walking, like standing foot down there, I'm breaking the law for some reason, you know? It's insane. Even when you're in girl drag? Well, like, so if you are, I'm not too sure exactly, but I've heard from my queen friends, like, ora, she lives in Tennessee, like, you can get in drag, to the venue.

But to be out of drag, you're breaking the law. So someone like me who doesn't, this is what it's made for, I can't get out of drag. I'm trans woman. Because you're a woman. I'm going to be breaking the law and that's what they want. Oh because they're trying to say you're about way to get trans people controlled. So they, the wording is, if you're in an article of clothing that is not your assigned birth article of clothing, that's how they can round about say that drag is illegal, and then the real thing is being trans is illegal. Oh, that I didn't. that?

Girl, they live in New York. They think they free. We live in a good left bubble. Listen, I've had a lot of people try to con me and tell me that New York was a racist. Go outside. Ha! Anyway. Like, y'all know where all the Dominicans are? Okay, that's not racist, anyway. If you know where every part of a group is, it's racist. I shouldn't be able to roll, oh, I go across thatthat's what they at but you know what that's I would be talking about we're

talking about Sasha Colby right now this is a this is a segment of tangent I mean listen I am tangential I'm a tangerine so I'm tangent I'm tangent I'm right. Now we have talked about all of the political thing. Yes. We have talked about the experience here. But what I do have is one final question for you, mother. If I was in the family, what would my drag name be? Oh, I mean, Ducey's already a already a sickening drag name. I hear you! And Ducey Colby sounds really nice. I'm a Colby? I just gave birth again. Somebody clean

up this water just broke, listen, all the water, I'm broke. Listen, somebody get this placenta wrapped up. I'm ready! I'm... Coby baby. That's the Colby everybody! Explore more shows from the Daily Show Podcast Universe by searching The Daily Show, wherever you get your podcast. Watch the Daily Show weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Fairmount Plus.

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