John Mulaney checked into a 60-day rehab program for cocaine and alcohol abuse this week, but eagle-eyed fans realized something was wrong in November.
The bizarre appearance of the 38-year-old stand-up comedian on NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers program in early November featured an inconsistent excerpt about the UK royal family, which was narrated while he was “crazy about the substances”, according to Page Six.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed that something was happening to Mulaney’s appearance and her confused and often bland speech.
Warning signs: John Mulaney, 38, raised concerns among friends and fans after a bizarre appearance in early November at Late Night With Seth Meyers, before entering rehab this week
Although the clip was filmed in early November, it was not shared online until November 24 and does not appear to have been broadcast on TV, possibly due to Mulaney’s behavior.
He updated Meyers with a segment entitled Royal Watch: News from the Real-Life Crown, in which he joked about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle being irritated that the ongoing pandemic had lessened the attention they received from their decision to “retreat like” older members of the royal family.
Mulaney immediately looked awkward due to his choice to wear a rumpled coat and big sunglasses, which were gifts from Strokes singer Julian Casablancas, who performed on Mulaney’s recent Saturday Night Live episode.
Mulaney joked that Prince Harry was ‘the real donkey in this fairy tale … You red donkey, don’t leave your title just because you don’t like your 94 year old grandmother’.
Strange appearance: Mulaney was wearing an overcoat and big sunglasses in an inconsistent segment about the royal family gossip that was filmed in early November
– That’s the definition of something you expect, gangsta. I’m sure the father’s time will solve the case of the very old and boring woman who was 30 months old, ‘he joked, before adding,’ Ahh, very cruel. ‘
After a pause, he continues: ‘You know it’s weird, right, that Meghan and Harry left?
– Did you think that rolling with those idiots in church clothes would be fun? Did they say it was laughter over and over? Because you’re thinking about the Munsters, you silly goose – he quipped extravagantly.
‘Just the fact that she wanted to leave the royal family because they were like’ be decent and be quiet ‘… So don’t marry the most boring people of all time and then say,’ we played Never Have I Ever ? “‘
Later, the SNL writer described himself to Meyers, saying: ‘Actually, I am simple and difficult.’
Not ready for TV: Meyers looked exasperated with his friend and said that the segment might need to go online – just after being edited, which seems to be what happened; seen in September 2019
At one point, he took off his sunglasses to reveal his half-closed eyes.
Although Meyers and Mulaney have been good friends for a long time and often have a playful and antagonistic relationship in public, Meyers looked tired while trying to end the segment.
‘I love having you here, but in the future, if you just want to talk about things like that, a phone call might be better … Let’s see what we can use with this, but it could just be online,’ he said, which seemed be prophetic.
‘The next Royal Watch will be a little more focused,’ Mulaney replied sheepishly.
‘Thank you, Seth, and as a student reporter once wrote about me: “Thanks for the laugh … [long pause] although virtual. “‘
A source told the post that Mulaney was ‘crazy’ because of the substances during the segment, which raised concerns about his health.
The humorist’s representatives did not comment on the segment.
Eagle eyed: On Twitter, a user pointed to the clip, writing, ‘Three weeks ago I felt there was something seriously * wrong * with John Mulaney’s appearance on Seth Meyers.’
Upset: a source said Mulaney was “crazy” with the substances when he filmed the segment
On Twitter, a user pointed to the clip, writing, ‘Three weeks ago I felt that there was something seriously * strange * about John Mulaney’s appearance on Seth Meyers.’
‘Yes, really!’ wrote someone else in reaction to the same clip. ‘He looked very strange in this segment and I was very confused, it was strange to watch him and see him like this, but it makes sense now, unfortunately.’
After news that Mulaney went to rehab, his friends at SNL, including creator Lorne Michaels and star Pete Davidson, encouraged him to seek treatment.
Friendly advice: SNL sources say that Lorne Michaels and Pete Davidson, both friends of Mulaney, have been insisting that he seek help; seen on October 31 on SNL
‘He has an intimate circle of friends who supported him incredibly [by] encouraging you to seek help and [staying] super-silent ‘, said a source in the series of comic sketches.
‘For everyone else, it was not so clear that he was fighting, but he has been a rock for so many other people that everyone knows he should get the help he needs.
‘Pete and Lorne have helped a lot,’ the source continued, adding, ‘Mulaney is like an older brother to Pete and they always travel together.’