Comedian Ruby Wax has spoken about the nature of celebrity interviews and the impact of "cancel culture," drawing on her long career engaging with public figures, including a memorable interview with Donald Trump.
Wax recalled bonding with the late Alan Rickman over what she described as "cruel" jokes, a humor that she acknowledged might not be acceptable today. "Rickman and I would laugh. That was cruel. I once showed it to an American, and they looked at me in horror," she told the Daily Mail. Wax noted that such humor, which involved making fun of people's appearances or strange circumstances, could now lead to significant backlash, "And now you would really get in trouble for that."
Reflecting on cancel culture, Wax expressed a lack of fear for herself, stating, "I think that I speak directly to people who don't feel so comfortable in their skin, and that's compassion for them." She also pointed to celebrities facing cancellation due to their stances on political issues, such as the Israeli-Gaza conflict. "I think you can be attacked. I mean celebrities because of what side they're on in the Israeli-Gaza conflict are being 'cancelled,'" she observed.
Wax, known for her provocative interview style in the 1990s, identified Carrie Fisher as a particularly memorable guest, describing their instant friendship that lasted for 35 years. "When Carrie spoke, it was perfect for a novel," Wax said. "She didn't have to do any editing, language just flowed out of her."
Conversely, she characterized her 2000 interview with Donald Trump as a "horror show." The interview reportedly lasted only five minutes after Wax laughed when Trump stated his presidential ambitions, leading him to call her the "most obnoxious person" he had ever met.
Wax also shared her desire to interview Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, speculating about the influence of public relations on their public personas. "I wonder how much PR has come down on them to say, keep your mouth shut," she mused, adding that she felt she might be able to connect with Prince Harry due to knowing him as a child.
Wax has stated she would not revive her chat show format, citing changes in the industry, including increased scrutiny from public relations professionals and the impossibility of the intimate, extended access she once enjoyed with guests. "You couldn't do that anymore. You have PR people watching and they're skeptical and they'd be afraid that I'd expose something," she explained. She also indicated that she could not adapt to more conventional talk show formats that rely on small talk, preferring the dynamic of relationships forming and dissolving on screen.
Currently, Wax is touring with her "Absolutely Famous" show, a retrospective of her interviews. She is also scheduled to appear at The Big Retreat Cambridgeshire, a festival focused on wellbeing, music, and food, where she will discuss her life, career, and advocacy for mental health. Wax, who has openly discussed her struggles with bipolar disorder and depression, uses her platform to promote mental wellbeing. "It's like if I strip off, they'll strip off," she said of her approach to vulnerability on stage. "So I think by being really direct they get the idea that there's no shame in anything."