Actor Daniel Franzese, known for his role as Damian in the 2004 film "Mean Girls," exited a comedy show prematurely on Tuesday evening after his performance failed to resonate with the audience. Franzese, 48, was scheduled to perform at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles alongside established comedians such as Arsenio Hall, Jay Leno, and Chelsea Handler.
Reports from an attendee indicated that Franzese's set began with jokes about Tom Cruise and syphilis in West Hollywood, but the audience reaction quickly dwindled. He then moved on to anecdotes about his mother's first trip to California, his Italian heritage, and an encounter with Ryan Gosling. However, these attempts to connect with the crowd were described as "painful" and unsuccessful, with one audience member stating Franzese appeared to be "dying onstage."
During his set, Franzese attempted to humorously describe the "Paranormal Activity" film franchise, comparing their low production costs to their high box office returns and noting their proliferation. The audience remained largely silent. Flustered by the lack of response, Franzese stopped midway through his material after approximately 11 minutes of his scheduled 15-minute set. He apologized to the audience, stating "I'm sorry" before calling for the host, Jessica Keenan, to come on stage.
Franzese then asked the audience to applaud Keenan before he departed the stage and went backstage. Keenan reportedly appeared surprised by the turn of events. Another attendee mentioned that Franzese followed several successful comedians and that a portion of the audience had left before his performance began.
Representatives for Franzese and The Comedy Store did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Franzese gained recognition for his portrayal of Damian, best friend to Lindsay Lohan's character Cady Heron, in "Mean Girls."
In past reflections, Franzese has shared that some of his lines in "Mean Girls," such as "I want my pink shirt back," were improvised. He also discussed the audition process, recounting how an interaction with co-star Tina Fey helped him secure the role. Franzese publicly came out in 2014, inspired by a fan's letter and his own experiences. He has also spoken about undergoing gay conversion therapy in his youth, detailing the process and his feelings of being influenced by societal pressures.
He later reflected on his role as the openly gay character Damian, noting the impact of positive LGBTQ+ representation. Franzese's experiences with conversion therapy were described as an attempt to change his sexual orientation, involving a therapist and prayer, which he stated left him feeling "brainwashed."