Bill Burr isn’t inquisitive about being your political pundit, and he made that crystal clear on the 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony.
The 56-year-old comic, who attended the occasion to assist honoree and longtime pal Conan O’Brien, shortly made headlines himself after a tense trade with reporters on the purple carpet.
In a now-viral video circulating on X, Invoice Burr was approached by a journalist referencing his previous feedback in assist of Luigi Mangione, the accused shooter within the high-profile UnitedHealthcare CEO case.
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Invoice Burr Shuts Down Reporter At Mark Twain Prize Ceremony
“I don’t assume you learn up on it as a result of I stated what I felt about it, and I stated what lots of people stated,” Burr fired again. He dismissed the road of questioning as an try to impress “some controversial second so [she] can get clicks.”
“I’m right here for Conan,” Burr added. “I’m not doing all of this. What are you gonna convey up subsequent? The Center East? I went to summer season college three out of 4 years in highschool. I’m not certified to speak about this.”
His efforts to steer the dialog again to comedy had been met with additional questions, together with one about Elon Musk’s alleged ties to the Trump administration.
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“I don’t watch the information! I do not know what’s happening,” Burr replied, including that almost all of his display screen time is spent watching foolish movies. “I don’t assume you need to be asking a comic,” he advised reporters. “You’re a journalist.”
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The Comic Roasts Reporter After He Was Requested A Luigi Mangione Query
When pressed on the concept that comedians are sometimes plugged into the cultural and political zeitgeist, Burr wasn’t having it.
“That’s you guys passing the buck. You guys have to have balls once more, which you don’t,” he stated. “You guys at all times go, ‘Ought to we be pondering this?’ You guys current stuff like that. You guys used to have balls. You should get your balls again. And it’s not my job. I’m a dancing clown.”
Regardless of his insistence on avoiding political discussions at a celebratory occasion, Burr has by no means shied away from expressing robust opinions on stage and display screen.
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Invoice Burr Sparks Outrage After ‘Free Luigi’ Rant On ‘Kimmel’
Again in January, Burr sparked controversy throughout a “Jimmy Kimmel Reside!” look the place he voiced assist for Mangione, the person accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Burr lambasted the media for specializing in vandalism and crime amid the Los Angeles wildfires whereas ignoring what he described as “healthcare bigwigs profiting off the pure catastrophe.”
“CNN and Fox Information are usually not going to convey up the insurance coverage firms which are simply gonna maintain everyone’s premiums and nonetheless give themselves a bonus,” he advised the cheering viewers, including, “Sure! Free Luigi!”
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Invoice Burr Doubles Down On Controversial Mangione Help
With reference to Thompson’s homicide, Burr identified that the bullets used within the killing had been engraved with “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a nod to the insurance coverage business exposé “Delay, Deny, Defend.”
“[The killer] wrote on the bullets why it occurred,” Burr stated.
He later elaborated to Variety, calling the healthcare business a “soiled recreation” and its CEOs “gangsters.”
“I’m certain they didn’t study something, but it surely’s like: That is the way you make everyone really feel daily as you apply strain as a result of ‘that’s how enterprise is finished,’” he stated. “How you allow this burning wreckage of destroyed lives as you ‘restructure’ and ‘consolidate.’ It was enjoyable to see them fear.”
Luigi Mangione Might Face The Demise Penalty
Mangione has pleaded not responsible and will face the demise penalty if convicted.
“Luigi Mangione’s homicide of Brian Thompson, an harmless man and father of two younger youngsters, was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” US Lawyer Pam Bondi stated in a press launch, per The New York Post, earlier this week. “After cautious consideration, I’ve directed federal prosecutors to hunt the demise penalty on this case as we stock out President Trump’s agenda to cease violent crime and Make America Secure Once more.”
Whereas the incident continues to stir debate, Burr seems undeterred. Whether or not in stand-up, on speak reveals, or strolling the purple carpet, he’s reminding everybody that he’s a comic first and a commentator final.
