Wanda Sykes buys her wife jewelry when she gets offended by her jokes

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Wanda Sykes just released a new Netflix standup special, Not Normal, and she’s currently making the rounds to chat about it. She visited the Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday where she also spoke about her family. Wanda married her wife, Alex, who is French, in 2008, and they have 10-year-old twins, Olivia and Lucas. Here’s some of what she said.

How do you get away?
I married a woman from France, so we go to France during the summer. No one knows me so I can sit and people watch. As soon as they hear the American accent they ask me what is going on in the US. Everyone is worried.

On how she explains America to French people
I tell them ‘I don’t know what happened. It’s just crazy. We elected a black man and then everything went to crap. Everybody lost their minds, they’re just trying to roll the clock back now.’ It’s not normal what’s going on in the country. It’s not normal that I know that I’m smarter than the president.

On if she believes in UFOs after working at the NSA
I do. I believe there’s other life out there. I believe they’re the same as the French, they want to know what the hell is going on.

How do you know your family is going to be ok with your jokes?
They like nice things. I try not to do jokes where my kids get of age that they’ll see it. My wife is into [my standup]. She loves it when I talk about her. Sometimes I go too far, she doesn’t like it. Maybe I have to buy a piece of jewelry.

On how her ten year-old twins are being raised, French or American
They are probably 70% French, 30% American. They are fluent in French. Their culture is very French. It’s always about a baguette. There’s cheese [for] lunch and dinner. [They do] a lot of outdoorsy stuff too.

[From The Late Show]

Like Stephen, I had no idea that Wanda worked for the NSA! She explains to him that she was a contracting specialist, and made purchases for the agency for everything from radar and surveillance equipment to furniture and office supplies. Stephen asked her whether she got “to know secret stuff there,” and she said, “Yes,” and told him that she had a top secret security clearance. She explained some of what’s involved in being granted that level of clearance. It makes me depressed and angry to know that Trump and his treasonous family have been able to skirt those (incredibly rigorous) requirements.

I returned a few weeks ago to Netflix from a hiatus and was excited to see that Wanda’s special had been released. It’s incredibly funny and pointed. While I tend to have a pretty wide-ranging sense of humor, it’s been harder to find things to laugh about lately. I laughed loudly at several points while watching. If you’re a fan of Wanda, make sure that you check it out.

Here’s Wanda talking about her family. The other part of her interview is here.

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photos credit: WENN

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43 Responses to “Wanda Sykes buys her wife jewelry when she gets offended by her jokes”

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  1. Seraphina says:

    I’m sorry, can’t focus on anything else except this brilliant concept: how I can get my husband to do the same when I don’t like his jokes.

  2. Lucy2 says:

    Her special was very good, I recommend watching it.

    • Millennial says:

      I enjoyed it too

    • Fanny says:

      I was disappointed. I loved her previous specials so much that I had my hopes up really high….and then I kind of had to trudge through the special over two nights. I didn’t want to hear political stuff since there are 6 TV shows per day that address politics in real time. I enjoyed the stuff about her wife and kids the most, but nothing compared to her previous material.

  3. Jade says:

    lol I’m French and I love her. I confirm that we’re all wondering about what’s going on in the United States. How could Trump be elected president? Something similar happening in France is my nightmare. Reading Celebitchy has been fantastic for the political articles and commentary. It’s reassuring to hear the voices of decent, rational people.

    • Thea says:

      The whole world is wondering. Every time I go abroad I have to explain how the electoral system works and how the asshat didn’t get the popular vote.

    • Kristen says:

      You guys have your own nightmare to worry about honey. Marine Le Pen and her ilk.

  4. Powermoonchrystal says:

    Her wife has that French sense of style that I crave but does not go with my figure:) I will check out her Netflix special.

  5. Godwina says:

    OMG I love her. I have adored her since “Klan dog!” IMO she is a 99% perfect human being, losing only 1% for involving herself with the Roseanne effin Barr thing (does not compute).

    • Yup, Me says:

      I read an article where she explained how that came about. She said she was returning a favor (basically) from back in 2014 (I believe) where Roseanne had agreed to be a judge on Last Comic Standing and it had gone well. She said that, even back then, Roseanne was tweeting (and retweeting) kooky stuff but it was just weird and out there and not really drawing much attention (conspiracy theories and the like). She said that as soon as the Valerie Jarrett tweet happened she called the execs and let them know she couldn’t be a part of the show anymore.

      • Godwina says:

        I can’t blame her! What a position to be in. I do remember that folks were side-eyeing the MAGA take of the remake script from the get-go, so it’s still a bit weird to me she signed on.

  6. Kittycat says:

    I didnt know Wanda’s wife is french.

    As a Canadian it is pretty clear why Americans voted for Trump. They are idiots. Full stop. The country is so far behind other industrialized countries it’s not even a joke.

    • ByTheSea says:

      I want to be offended, but, alas you’re right about Trump voters (only 25% of the voting eligible, by the way). And I don’t want to hear ish about people being scared. The only thing fueling their “fear” was racism.

    • Yup, Me says:

      Let’s be clear – 53% of white female voters and an even higher percentage of white male voters voted for him.

      94% of Black female voters did NOT vote for Trump and 80 some percent of Black male voters didn’t either. Significant percentages of other ethnic groups did not vote for Trump (LatinX and Asian). And an enraging number of people didn’t get out and vote at all.

      I’m often the first to comment on how stupid many Americans are but if you’re going to speak in broad generalities, make sure you mention how racism and sexism and apathy contributed to Trump’s win. It was primarily older white women and men who put him in office.

    • Hermione says:

      Sadly, this is true. I’ll only add that it was white women and men and voter apathy (but her emails) that got Trump elected. Obama being elected broke so many brains and the majority of the population wasn’t smart enough to recognize that deep seated hate and ugliness had been unleashed. We are paying the price now.

    • Jonsey says:

      I agree with you on the point that the Americans who voted for Drumpf are idiots.

      However, the majority of the voting public voted for the other candidate. The Electoral College, not the majority of the voting public, gave Drumpf the presidency.

    • Veronica S. says:

      Unfortunately, it’s probably more accurate to say “Americans are racist” than “Americans are stupid.” Plenty of educated people voted for Trump. Plenty of educated people also stayed at home, throwing away their vote in what was a pivotal election in modern American history, because the stakes weren’t high enough for them personally to be motivated to act.

      • Agirlandherdog says:

        I’d add “and/or selfish.” Because many people who voted for Trump are not racists, but they’re freaking selfish, and only voted for him because they thought it would allow them to keep more of their money. Joke’s on them though because his “tax reform” didn’t help the majority of Americans. I am in the upper middle class bracket it did help. For the first time in several years, instead of paying 5 figure taxes, I got BACK a 5 figure refund when we did our taxes… I’d rather pay the money in and not have this dumb mothertrucker as president.

    • Godwina says:

      Canadians voted Harper in for nearly a decade, and Ontarians voted in Ford. And we all know who’s got a good chance of winning federally in October. We have ZERO leg to stand on.

      • Lexluthorblack says:

        Thank you, I agree. As Canadians, we offer looking at our neighbor’s weeds but never our own mess. As Woc, I often experience racism in Canada as well.

      • Market Street Minifig says:

        ITA as well.

        Beyond that, it bugs me when my fellow Canadians adopt an air of superiority while discussing our neighbours to the south. It is rude—and so not in keeping with the image we like to embrace of being nice and polite.

      • outoftheshadows says:

        Thanks for standing up for us, guys. I have to say that if world leaders are any indication of the intelligence of the world population, the octopi ought to be the ruling species. Politicians get it wrong all the time, but that doesn’t mean we (Americans/Canadians/humans) are all stupid.

      • Pineapple says:

        Yah, I live in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada. We currently have billboards advertising pipelines lining the roads. (Thanks Conservatives.) We are in The Sixth Mass Extinction but you know, why ruin a good money maker with science and reason and stuff. The Conservatives own the majority of the newspapers, they ripped apart out environmental protections. They are using propaganda to convince the public there is no problem with gas and oil. Honestly, it is behaviour out of a bad, spooky novel you would read in Highschool.

      • snazzy says:

        Exactly this. And don’t forget the fool in Alberta.

        Stones in glass houses and all that …

    • paranormalgirl says:

      Yes, we’re ALL idiots. Every single one of us. (my eye rolling should be audible)

    • Pineapple says:

      Let’s not forget that the head of the FBI came out days before the election and said Hillary was being investigated. Let’s not forget that. The Government sunk her chances. The question is why.

  7. Seraphina says:

    She’s so funny. Loved her in Monster In Law with JLo. And I find it hilarious that the kids are being brought up very French and adds very outdoorsy. All my kids want to do is play video games. I have to force them out with us.

  8. original_kellybean says:

    My cats and dogs are smarter than the US president. I am pretty sure that a fruit fly is smarter than him.

  9. Slowsnow says:

    Loved loved loved her special. So clever and hilarious. The timing of the jokes and the info she very subtely inserts in there so that the jokes are even more poignant is real mastery.

    • sunny says:

      Her special was really well done! Also so many of her jokes are hilariously truthful.

  10. adastraperaspera says:

    Wanda Sykes is a national treasure!

  11. Nan says:

    Wanda Sykes speaks the truth and she’s funny af. What a beautiful couple – so glad they found each other!

  12. mycomment says:

    I would never in a million years have guessed she formerly worked for nsa… and her response to the ufo question — they want to know what the hell is going on here … was hilarious.

  13. Morrissey says:

    Wanda is a go-to watch when I need a laugh or to feel human again. She’s pure joy.

  14. Veronica S. says:

    I forgot she was married to a French woman. I’ve always loved her dry, sneaky humor. She has a way of throwing a pointed joke into a conversation so smoothly that can take a second to digest, which make sit all the funnier when you get it.

  15. Nancypants says:

    I think she’s hilarious.
    I watched the new Netflix special twice so far.

    That bit about French cheese cracks me up every time!

    I didn’t know she was a Contracting Specialist.
    I was a Contracting Officer for the USAF for 16 years.
    My husband has been a C.O. for the feds for about 30 years.
    I never knew that about her.

    I loved her in the tv show with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
    I think it was the New Old Christine but it didn’t last long.

    I think she hosted the Oscars or some awards show one year and Bill Cosby was really rude and dismissive of her ON CAMERA and in front of everyone.
    How do you like her now BILL??

  16. Lana234 says:

    I just watched her special it was funny. In these times you need to laugh

  17. Westie says:

    Her special on Netflix is hilarious! I watched it twice and it’s not even her best material but her delivery is always brilliant. It’s laugh out loud funny for a solid hour. Plus she’s a feminist and talks about subjects from a woman’s point of of view. Somehow she manages to put you in a good mood and feel empowered even though she covers issues like Trump, racism and lots more. She is a treasure.

  18. StellainNH says:

    OMG! What a funny show! I loved her menopause bit. Thanks for writing about it!

  19. asdfa says:

    I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE WANDA!!!