Comedian Damon Wayans recently opened up about his experiences with the late Robin Williams during an interview on the podcast Club Shay Shay. Wayans claimed that Williams, beloved by many for his fast-talking and energetic comedy, had a reputation in the stand-up world for stealing jokes from other comedians.
According to Wayans, this was not a secret among comics. He called Williams a "notorious thief" and said it was common for other comedians to recognize their material in his performances. In fact, Wayans shared that Williams' manager would carry around a checkbook and pay comedians $75 if their jokes were used without permission.
“Robin would come off stage and a comedian would say, ‘Hey, he just took my joke,’ and the manager would write them a check,” Wayans said.
While some comedians were frustrated, others avoided performing when Williams was nearby. Still, Wayans offered a more relaxed take on the situation. He said that although it was wrong, a stolen joke wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. “You didn’t take my wife or kid. It’s just a joke,” he said.