John Mulaney checked himself into a 60-day rehab program for cocaine and alcohol abuse this week, but eagle-eyed fans spotted something amiss back in November.
The 38-year-old stand-up comedian’s bizarre appearance on NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers in early November featured a rambling bit about the UK’s royal family that was delivered while he was ‘out of his mind on substances,’ according to Page Six.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed that something was up with Mulaney’s appearance and his rambling and often unfunny delivery.
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Warning signs: John Mulaney, 38, raised concerns among friends and fans following a bizarre early November appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, before he entered rehab this week
Although the clip was filmed in early November, it wasn’t shared online until November 24, and it doesn’t appear to have been aired on TV, possibly due to Mulaney’s demeanor.
He was updated Meyers with a segment titled Royal Watch: News from the Real-Life Crown, in which he joked about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle being annoyed that the ongoing pandemic had decreased the attention they got from their decision to ‘step back as “senior” members’ of the royal family.
Mulaney immediately looked odd due to his choice to wear a rumpled duster and large sunglasses, which were presents from The Strokes’ singer Julian Casablancas, who performed on the recent Saturday Night Live episode hosted by Mulaney.
Mulaney joked that Prince Harry was ‘the real dunce of this fairytale … You dumb ginger, don’t leave your title just because you don’t like your 94-year-old grandma.’
Odd appearance: Mulaney was dressed in a duster and large sunglasses in a rambling segment about royal family gossip that was filmed in early November
‘That’s the definition of something you wait out, gangsta. I am pretty sure father time is going to sort out the case of the very old bummer woman who had 30 months to live,’ he joked, before adding, ‘Ahh, too mean.’
After a pause, he continues: ‘You know it’s weird, right, that Meghan and Harry left?
‘You thought rolling with those dorks in church clothes would be fun? Had you been told it was non-stop laughs? Because you’re thinking of The Munsters, you silly goose,’ he joked flamboyantly.
‘Just the fact that she wanted to leave the royal family because they were like “be proper and sit still” … So don’t marry into the family with the most jive-ass boring people ever and then be like, “Oh, shall we play Never Have I Ever?”‘
Later, the SNL writer described himself to Meyers, saying, ‘Indeed, I am simple and difficult.’
Not ready for TV: Meyers seemed exasperated with his friend and said the segment might need to go online-only once it was edited, which seems to be what happened; seen in September 2019
At one point he removed the sunglasses to reveal squinting eyes.
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Although Meyers and Mulaney have long been good friends and often have a jokingly antagonistic relationship in public, Meyers sounded weary as he tried to wrap up the segment.
‘I love having you on here, but in the future, if you just want to talk things like this out, a phone call might be better … We will see what of this we can use, but it might be online only,’ he said, which appeared to be prophetic.
‘The next Royal Watch will be a little more focused,’ Mulaney replied bashfully.
‘Thank you Seth, and as a student reporter once wrote of me, “Thank you for the laughs… [long pause] albeit virtual.”‘
A source told the post that Mulaney was ‘out of his mind’ on substances during the segment, which raised concerns about his health.
The comedian’s representatives haven’t commented about the segment.
Eagle eyed: On Twitter, one user pointed out the clip, writing, ‘three weeks ago I felt there was something seriously *off* with John Mulaney’s appearance on Seth Meyers.’
Troubling: An insider said Mulaney was ‘out of his mind’ on substances when he filmed the segment
On Twitter, one user pointed out the clip, writing, ‘three weeks ago I felt there was something seriously *off* with John Mulaney’s appearance on Seth Meyers.’
‘Yeah same!’ wrote another person in reaction to the same clip. ‘He just seemed very off in this segment and I was very confused it was odd to watch and see him like that but it makes sense now, unfortunately.’
Following the news that Mulaney checked into rehab, his friends at SNL, including creator Lorne Michaels and star Pete Davidson, have been encouraging him to seek treatment.
Friendly advice: Sources at SNL say Lorne Michaels and Pete Davidson, both Mulaney’s friends, have been urging him to get help; seen October 31 on SNL
‘He has a tight inner circle of friends who have been incredibly supportive [by] encouraging him to get help and [staying] super tight-lipped,’ said a source at the sketch comedy series.
‘To everyone else, it wasn’t as clear he was struggling, but he’s been a rock to so many other people that everyone knows that he should get the help he needs.
‘Pete and Lorne have been incredibly helpful,’ the source continued, adding: ‘Mulaney is like an older brother to Pete and they always tour together.’
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