Comedian and Emmy-winning writer Jerrod Carmichael is bringing his signature honesty and wit back to HBO with a brand-new stand-up special, Don’t Be Gay, premiering Saturday, May 24 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The special will also be available to stream on Max.
Following the critical success of his groundbreaking 2022 special Rothaniel, in which Carmichael came out as gay, Don’t Be Gay promises to continue his deeply personal and unfiltered comedic exploration of identity, vulnerability, and truth — all delivered with his trademark dry humor and charm.
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Building on a Legacy of Raw Honesty
Not much has been revealed about the content of the upcoming special, but HBO is already calling it a powerful continuation of Carmichael’s evolving storytelling. Nina Rosenstein, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming, Late Night and Specials, praised the special in a statement, saying Don’t Be Gay “continues to build” on the “raw,” “intimate,” and “emotionally honest” tone of Rothaniel and Carmichael’s recent unscripted series, The Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show.
In Rothaniel, Carmichael spoke candidly about his struggle to embrace his sexuality, revealing to the audience, “I thought I’d never, ever come out. At many points I thought I’d rather die than confront the truth of that, to actually say it to people.”
The powerful special struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, earning Carmichael an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special. “I made something that was of great personal consequence to me,” he said in his acceptance speech, adding, “this definitely contributes to the meaning of it.”
A Continuation of Candid Conversations
Carmichael didn’t stop at stand-up. He followed up with The Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, a comedy docuseries that offered even more intimate (and often awkward) moments from his real life. One headline-making episode featured a surprising conversation with rapper Tyler, the Creator, during which Carmichael confessed a crush.
“Getting news like that and then avoiding it is a way to avoid change,” Tyler said in the moment. “That was a lot to download… and I still don’t know how to respond.”
Fans and critics alike are eager to see how Carmichael continues to push boundaries with his fourth HBO special. With a title as provocatively tongue-in-cheek as Don’t Be Gay, expectations are high for another vulnerable, funny, and unflinchingly honest hour of comedy.
Don’t Be Gay premieres Saturday, May 24 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available for streaming on Max.
