Comedian Margaret Cho recently divulged a harrowing personal anecdote from her early career, recounting an onstage accident where she lost control of her bowels while wearing an all-white outfit, an incident she attributes to weight-loss drugs. The mishap not only ruined her clothing but also left an indelible stain on her car, forcing her to replace the vehicle.
Cho shared this story during an appearance on the “How to Fail With Elizabeth Day” podcast, where she opened up about the physical and emotional toll of her past attempts to conform to Hollywood’s beauty standards. She explained that in the Y2K era, she began taking unspecified pills designed to remove fat from consumed food, which she compared to “pepperoni grease” in consistency.
The calamity struck during a comedy performance where Cho was “killing it” onstage, dressed in a white dress and pants combination. As the drugs took effect, she felt a sudden loss of bowel control, describing the substance as orange grease that began spurting out uncontrollably. Despite the ongoing show, she had to continue until she could make a hasty exit.
With the audience demanding an encore after a standing ovation, Cho backed out through the curtains, relieved to find no one backstage. She immediately squatted on the ground to alleviate cramping, releasing the oily residue that she noted “might have smelled like s–t.” Fearing evidence, she pulled her pants back up and fled the venue.
The aftermath extended beyond the stage; as Cho drove away in her car, the orange oil stain seeped into the front seat, proving impossible to remove. She recounted having to “just get a new car,” adding a layer of material loss to the personal humiliation she endured that night.
Emotionally, Cho was devastated at the time, feeling “really upset and disgusted” by the “horrible” experience, which left her in tears. However, in retrospect, she has found a way to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, viewing it as a pivotal moment that taught her valuable lessons.
This incident marked the end of her use of such weight-loss drugs, as she vowed never to take them again. Cho has since spoken out against the damaging weight standards in entertainment, highlighting how societal pressures led to self-hatred and risky behaviors in her youth.
Ultimately, Margaret Cho’s mortifying tale serves as a cautionary narrative about the perils of quick-fix solutions for weight loss, blended with her signature humor to transform a personal low point into a shared, relatable human experience. It highlights her resilience and ability to find comedy in life’s most embarrassing moments.
