Katt Williams “regrets” making jokes about Michael Jackson, saying, “I shouldn’t have”

The comedian also talked about Janet Jackson’s response when she first met him.

Since he feels that his previous comments about the late music legend Michael Jackson contributed to a negative stereotype of Black men, Katt Williams has apologized for them.

Williams admitted to being excessively critical of Jackson in an interview at the Vulture festival, but he did not elaborate on the situation or type of jokes he was talking to.

Speaking about his material on the late King of Pop, the outspoken comedian acknowledged, “I shouldn’t have, honestly.”

For example, the enemy may choose to allow you to become well-known because of some of these factors. No matter how high they are, you have the power to destroy your own species. However, my role is to be humorous first and to speak for a group of people who wouldn’t otherwise have a voice. Therefore, if you don’t love yourself, you don’t love me as a Black guy.

Williams did not define the source of his uneasiness, but he ascribed his obsession with Jackson to his own mental health and his anger toward Jackson. “You know, those were the jokes of a guy who was hurt.” Williams went on. “By a famous person.”

The comic also disclosed that, in spite of the jokes he had made about her late brother, Jackson’s sister, Janet Jackson, had shown him grace.

One of the most amazing things, you know, is that years later, Janet Jackson declared her love for me in spite of the jokes I made about her brother. I say a lot of funny things, just because. But, you know, it always costs me. I mean, I’m never safe in these circumstances.

Since his widely shared interview on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast in 2024, Katt Williams has been a lightning rod. The comic was especially open during the show, sharing his complaints about a number of celebrities, including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, and others.