Theo Von clarifies 'I would never try to take my own life', after NYC show walkouts

Comedian and podcast host Theo Von has addressed growing concern from fans following a rocky stand-up performance in New York City and a viral comment that sparked alarm about his mental health.

Von performed at the Beacon Theatre on Saturday night during what was meant to be the taping of a new stand-up special. However, audience members described the show on Reddit as “unrehearsed,” “disorganized,” and even a “failure of epic proportions,” with several claiming a significant portion of the crowd walked out mid-show.

After the performance, a video circulated of Von telling fans, “I don’t know what to tell you about that, man, but I’ve been having a long month. I’m trying not to take my own life,” prompting concern across social media.

On a recent episode of his podcast This Past Weekend, Von clarified that his comment was not a serious expression of suicidal intent. “I would never try to take my own life,” he said multiple times throughout the episode. He emphasized that, while the performance had been “choppy” and “messier” than usual, it was part of the natural ups and downs of comedy. “I eat failure for breakfast, brother,” he joked. “It’s part of the job.”

Von went on to express gratitude for his life, citing his faith, family, friends, and hope for the future as reasons for staying grounded. “I want to be able to have an impact in the world,” he added.

The comedian is reportedly working on his next stand-up hour, potentially for Netflix, following his previous specials No Offense (2016) and Regular People (2021).

Von’s podcast has seen a meteoric rise, currently ranking No. 2 on Spotify’s charts. Recent guests have included high-profile political figures like Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Bernie Sanders. Though Von has become associated with right-leaning platforms, he rarely voices his own political beliefs, recently pushing back against the Department of Homeland Security for using his image in an immigration video without his permission.