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ComedianRoy Wood Jr.says “nobody’s off limits” as he prepares to deliver his White House Correspondents' Dinner roast on Saturday night — and he’s ready for the possibility of PresidentJoe Bidenturning the tables right back on him.
“You’ve got to watch yourself around Joe Biden. Joe Biden’s got some jabs. Joe Biden’s got a sense of humor. So, you know, he could come back up there and dunk on me,” Wood tells PEOPLE. “It’s a dope opportunity to be a part of the Correspondents' Dinner in any capacity, but to be able to be the entertainment and be able to, you know, throw a jab…”
With his comedy set, Wood will join a prestigious list of entertainers tasked with poking fun at a United States president — yet he sees the opportunity as more than just a quick laugh. “At the end of the day, you’re still trying to shine a light on wrongs that are happening in this country in a room full of people that could change that stuff,” he says.
Asked if he plans to poke fun at politicians on both sides of the aisle, Wood says: “I think you’ve got to hit both sides. I think the job of a comedian is to tell the truth and when you tell the truth, you’re going to sting everybody.”
“I think as a comedian, you’re juggling dynamite if you come into a situation thinking that one side is better than the other,” he adds.
“I’m not nervous about whether or not people laugh. Every comedian has bombed before,” he says. “Oh, I bombed in front of lawmakers.What are you going to do, deport me? You can’t. I was born here. I’m good. What are you going to do? Are you going to audit my taxes? I’m solid. Come at me, bro. My 1099s are good.”
Instead, he notes, he’s more nervous about failing to use his platform for good. “Comedians represent the constituents, man. So you have to figure out a way to do something that is beneficial and that speaks for people who would never get the opportunity to be in a room full of elected officials, literally every elected official down toGeorge Santos,” he says.
Wood also says that he won’t limit his jokes to the political figures and celebrities in the audience on Saturday evening.
“I can’t control who is there. I know if you’re not there, I’m not going tonotsay something about you. I’m supposed to not talk about Clarence Thomas because he’s not there? No,” he said. “Nobody’s off limits.”
C-SPAN willstreamthe White House Correspondents' Dinner — including Wood’s remarks — live on Saturday evening, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
source: people.com
