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Who Is Michelle Wolf?
Michelle Wolf, born around 1985, is a stand-up comedian and writer renowned for her sharp, politically charged humor. She began her career as a writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2014 and transitioned to a correspondent role on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in 2016. Her breakthrough came in 2017 with the airing of her comedy special on HBO.
On April 28, 2018, Wolf delivered a provocative monologue at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, sparking a mixed response. While some journalists and commentators criticized her for what they perceived as personal attacks, others praised her for using incisive humor to expose misconduct and hypocrisy. Following this, she hosted The Break with Michelle Wolf on Netflix starting in May 2018, although the show was canceled after just three months.
Entry Into Comedy
Wolf’s journey into comedy began unexpectedly while she was working at Bear Stearns. A lifelong fan of Saturday Night Live, she attended a taping with friends, which reignited her passion for performance. Inspired by the realization that many actors had come from improv backgrounds, she enrolled in improv classes. This led her to also pursue stand-up comedy, ultimately paving the way for her new career.
Stand-Up and Comedy Career
Emily Wolf began her stand-up comedy journey in 2011. By January 2013, she made the pivotal decision to fully commit to her comedic aspirations. Utilizing severance pay from her role as a recruiter at a biochemistry research lab and her personal savings, she dedicated a year to honing her craft in comedy.
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Wolf’s commitment paid off when, in January 2014, she was hired as a writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers. In addition to crafting jokes for the show, she made notable appearances as the character “Grown-Up Annie” and marked her television stand-up debut in July 2014.
The Daily Show
Seeking greater on-screen opportunities, Wolf transitioned from Late Night to The Daily Show in April 2016, where she established a strong rapport with host Trevor Noah. On November 9, 2016, she delivered a poignant and emotional segment addressing her disappointment and anger following the results of the 2016 presidential election.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
In 2016, Wolf showcased her stand-up act at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she received a nomination for Best Newcomer, further solidifying her presence in the comedy scene.
‘Nice Lady’ HBO Special
In 2017, Michelle Wolf released her debut comedy special, Nice Lady, on HBO. The special opened with Wolf declaring, “I am a feminist,” using humor to shed light on misogyny in society. One notable moment came when she speculated, “I do have a theory on why Hillary [Clinton] lost. I think it’s ’cause no one likes her,” before concluding, “We’re never gonna have a nice lady run for President.”
‘The Break with Michelle Wolf’
Wolf’s half-hour weekly talk show, The Break with Michelle Wolf, premiered on Netflix on May 27, 2018. While Wolf stated that the show would not primarily focus on political humor, she occasionally indulged in political commentary, notably in a segment that compared the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the terrorist organization ISIS, which sparked considerable controversy.
Despite garnering attention, The Break was short-lived, concluding after just 10 episodes when Netflix canceled it in August 2018. Wolf took the cancellation in stride, reflecting, “It wasn’t the right time. I don’t think I had a clear enough idea of what I really wanted to do.”
‘Joke Show’
Wolf made her return to the screen with the Netflix stand-up special Joke Show in December 2019. Embracing her trademark candor, the hour-long set featured her reflections on the colorful comments found on her Instagram feed, alongside personal narratives about her experiences with abortion.
Collaborations with Chris Rock and Louis C.K.
In 2016, comedian Chris Rock enlisted Wolf to write jokes for his Academy Awards hosting duties, and she has also opened for him during his tours.
Wolf began performing at the Comedy Cellar in August 2015, where she crossed paths with Louis C.K., who became a mentor. Wolf made an appearance in his television series Horace and Pete and opened for him on tour. However, she expressed reluctance to address the sexual harassment allegations against C.K., stating in a 2018 interview with The Daily Beast, “He’s always been very supportive and generous, and my experience with him is very different than others, I suppose. But, in this kind of big moment in my career, I don’t really want to talk about stuff that a man did.”
Early Life and Education
Michelle Wolf was born circa 1985 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Raised in a family with two older brothers, she excelled in track and field until an injury curtailed her collegiate athletic career. Wolf studied kinesiology at the College of William and Mary, graduating in 2007.
Career in Finance
Despite not having a formal background in finance, Wolf accepted a position in private client services at Bear Stearns after graduating. She noted, “I was an athlete in college, and Wall Street likes athletes because they’re very competitive people that are willing to do anything to win.” Wolf experienced the turbulence of the 2008 financial crisis while at Bear Stearns before moving on to a role at J.P. Morgan.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner 2018: An Overview
On April 28, 2018, Michelle Wolf delivered a 20-minute monologue at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD), marking her as the fifth woman to host this prestigious event. Sponsored by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), the dinner aims to foster camaraderie among its members, politicians, and government officials while raising funds for WHCA scholarships. Following in the footsteps of past hosts like Stephen Colbert and Don Imus, who are known for their satirical commentary on politicians and the presidency, Wolf adopted a similar approach.
Remarks on Sarah Huckabee Sanders
A significant moment in Wolf’s monologue was her critique of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who attended as a representative of President Trump. Wolf began her remarks with, “We are graced with Sarah’s presence tonight. I have to say I’m a little star-struck. I love you as Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid’s Tale.” She continued with a sharp jab: “I actually really like Sarah. I think she’s very resourceful. She burns facts, and then she uses that ash to create a perfect smoky eye. Like maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s lies. It’s probably lies.”
Wolf’s comments were met with visible discomfort from Sanders, who was seated just a few feet away. Following the event, New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman praised Sanders on Twitter for enduring “intense criticism of her physical appearance, her job performance, and so forth, instead of walking out.” MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski expressed sympathy for Sanders, emphasizing that “women who use their government positions to spread lies and misinformation deserve to face the same withering criticism as men,” but urged that personal appearance should be off-limits. In response to Haberman’s remarks, Wolf asserted on Twitter that her jokes were directed at Sanders’ “despicable behavior,” referencing Sanders’ history of misleading statements, including a notable misrepresentation regarding census questions.
Additional Targets and Commentary
Wolf’s monologue extended beyond Sanders, as she took aim at various public figures, including:
- Ivanka Trump: “She was supposed to be an advocate for women, but it turns out she’s about as helpful to women as an empty box of tampons.”
- Donald Trump: “Mr. President, I don’t think you’re very rich. I think you might be rich in Idaho, but in New York, you’re doing fine. Trump is the only person that still watches Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and thinks, ‘Me!'”
- Democrats: “Democrats are harder to make fun of because you guys don’t do anything. People think you might flip the House and Senate this November, but you guys always find a way to mess it up.”
- The Media: “What no one in this room wants to admit is that Trump has helped all of you. He couldn’t sell steaks or vodka or water or college or ties or Eric, but he has helped you. You helped create this monster, and now you’re profiting off of him.”
Wolf concluded her performance not with a joke, but with a poignant reminder that “Flint [Michigan] still doesn’t have clean water.”
Criticism and WHCA’s Response
Anticipating backlash, Wolf remarked, “You should have done more research before you got me to do this.” While some defended her, arguing that she was hired to perform a comedic roast designed to provoke thought and discussion, critics, including President Trump, expressed discontent. The WHCA issued a statement disavowing Wolf’s performance, noting that the event was meant to convey a unifying message about commitment to a free press and civility, which they felt was compromised by her monologue.
In the wake of the dinner, President Trump labeled the event a “total disaster and an embarrassment,” reflecting the polarized responses to Wolf’s controversial yet memorable performance.