Political meaning keeps getting attached to Druski’s comedy, but he is not volunteering for the job. The comedian addressed that tension in his new TIME cover story, where the conversation turned to one of his most talked-about sketches of the year. Despite how much commentary the video generated, Druski kept his own description simple. “I’m not no politician,” he said. “I’m just a funny guy.”
The remark followed a discussion of his March sketch “How Conservative Women in America Act,” which featured Druski in white makeup, a blonde wig, and blue contact lenses while playing an exaggerated conservative woman. The character cries through interviews and makes racist remarks while moving through an increasingly absurd day. Although Druski never named a real person, many interpreted the look as a reference to Erika Kirk. Kirk later appeared to respond without naming him, saying she had seen comedians dressing up in whiteface while criticizing what she called “dehumanization.”
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Druski Says His Comedy Starts With What He Sees
Rather than unpack the sketch as a political statement, Druski told TIME he was more interested in discussing the work behind the transformation. That fits with how he has described his comedy elsewhere. He told the magazine that his characters are often pulled from behavior he notices in real life and said comedy can work like a mirror for things people may otherwise ignore. His viral megachurch pastor character grew from similar observations, with Druski previously saying there was “truth” behind the joke.
That line between satire and commentary has become more noticeable as Druski’s sketches have grown more elaborate. The conservative-woman video surpassed 100 million views on Instagram, according to TIME, and his characters now regularly spill into larger projects. His megachurch pastor, for example, moved from a viral sketch into his BET Awards hosting material and an upcoming Netflix series, Collect & Praise.
Even with audiences reading politics into some of those characters, Druski appears determined to keep the label off himself. His focus, at least publicly, remains comedy and how far he can stretch it. That includes Livestream From Hell with Kevin Hart and Kai Cenat, along with a growing film career that TIME says will next place him opposite Chris Pine and Emma Stone in The Catch.
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