MAGA podcaster and comedian Theo Von is taking a beating online after his much-hyped Netflix special taping in New York went badly wrong, with fans slamming it as “the worst comedy show I’ve ever seen.”
According to several posts on Reddit, Von looked lost on stage at the Beacon Theatre over the weekend. One person claimed he “had to pause the show to ask for the punchline several times,” while another described the night as “nerve wrecking just to watch.” Someone else went even further, branding the set “a failure of epic proportions.”
Vanity Fair, which reviewed the show, said Von, “a sought-out interviewer for A-list actors and musicians,” struggled through “a couple of false starts” and came across as “jittery.”
The outlet also described the performance as “disorganized,” noting that Von briefly walked on stage only to abandon his set, restart, then order an audience member to be kicked out before beginning again.
Netflix and Von did not respond to requests for comment ahead of publication. This was set to be his third Netflix special, after 2016’s Theo Von: No Offense and 2021’s Theo Von: Regular People. Von, who first found fame on reality television before becoming a pro-MAGA podcaster, has long balanced stand-up with podcasting.
His politics have sometimes wavered—he objected when the Department of Homeland Security used his image without permission in a deportation campaign video, saying on X, “Yooo DHS i didnt approve to be used in this. I know you know my address so send a check.” He added that immigration was more complicated than their “banger” video suggested. Still, he backed Donald Trump during the 2024 election and attended the inauguration as part of a group of right-wing podcasters, reported Deadline.
At the show, Von himself admitted he was struggling. In one clip shared online, he tells a fan, “I’m having a long month, I’m trying not to take my own life.” Von has often spoken publicly about his mental health, addiction, and trauma, and his podcast has given him space to be candid about depression.
But sympathy was hard to find among those who paid for tickets. Multiple fans said people walked out of the show, with one claiming a third of the audience left. Others disputed the number but agreed that the complaints were justified.
Even his die-hard “anti-woke” supporters were unimpressed. Many highlighted lazy, dated jokes about autism and Jewish people, with one writing, “I absolutely love Theo but to me it seemed like…more than just nerves.” Another fan on X summed it up bluntly: “Was there. love Theo—worst set ever.”
For a comedian who built his reputation on charm and offbeat humour, it was a sobering night. The special has yet to be released, but the reaction so far suggests Netflix may have to decide if it even wants to.
